Subway eyed

I must applaud Erie County Executive Mark DiVecchio and Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott for closing a positive deal on the runway-extension project.

[Fed Up Taxpayer]

Are you being sarcastic?? I sure hope so. Do you have any idea what it would COST to build a subway system like that? We can't make the budget now.

Increase the bus system, maybe. Create a subway system? What are you smoking?

[Mark]

The EMTA funding must be tied to riders...why else would they offer free rides everywhere....a large gaping hole sucking out money...is what the bus service is...end its misery

[For Erie]

How wonderful it is to see someone write something positive for a change.

[Donny Baker]

In a place like NYC where mass transit is the norm, this works. Here, where you rarely see more than two people on a bus, how could possibly think of some justification for this?

[Amy4peace]

Posters #1 #2 #3 #4 are you people really this stupid ?????

[Self]

I happen to be a fan of mass transit. Subways in particular. DC has an outstanding system that is very useful for folks in the area. However, as nice as it would be to build a subway system (and belive me, growing up in Erie, as a youngster, I would sketch out a system map over a copy of an Erie street map) it just isn't practical. There as several reasons for this: 1) It would cost too much money; 2) The population density is not high enough to demand it; 3) Traffic in Erie is not as big a problem as it is in areas like DC, thus, most people will take their cars; 4) In order to maintain such a system, fares would have to be at least $2.50 a person, one way. Again, as much as I would enjoy it, it simply will not occur, unless Erie's population grows by about 1-2 million people.

[Taxed Payer Erie Co]

Mark wrote:

The EMTA funding must be tied to riders...why else would they offer free rides everywhere....a large gaping hole sucking out money...is what the bus service is...end its misery

The EMTA is a sad joke.

[Donny Baker]

Amy4peace wrote:

Posters #1 #2 #3 #4 are you people really this stupid ?????

Are you the stupid letter writer, or did you just not read the posts? What is your point?

[Donny Baker]

Self wrote:

I happen to be a fan of mass transit. Subways in particular. DC has an outstanding system that is very useful for folks in the area. However, as nice as it would be to build a subway system (and belive me, growing up in Erie, as a youngster, I would sketch out a system map over a copy of an Erie street map) it just isn't practical. There as several reasons for this: 1) It would cost too much money; 2) The population density is not high enough to demand it; 3) Traffic in Erie is not as big a problem as it is in areas like DC, thus, most people will take their cars; 4) In order to maintain such a system, fares would have to be at least $2.50 a person, one way. Again, as much as I would enjoy it, it simply will not occur, unless Erie's population grows by about 1-2 million people.

I concur entirely. Irode the subway in DC when I was younger, and it served a great purpose. There just isn't the market for it here.

[Amy4peace]

Donny Baker wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you the stupid letter writer, or did you just not read the posts? What is your point?

I read the posts---she was being sarcastic in her letter to the paper and you fools are taking it for real.-Sad that so many are so stupid!!!

[Donny Baker]

I read it, then re-read it. I don't think she was being sarcastic, at least it didn't come across that way. To think, if local taxes are raised a mere 20-30% more, with grant money from the feds once Obama is elected and puts the world back on it's axis,(shouldn't take him more than a week,) he raises our federal taxes another 30% and the whole world is green and beautiful,(maybe a month,) we can have the subway by the end of 2010.

(That's sarcasm, stupid.)

[Up to Here]

More people SHOULD take public transit...maybe it would cut back on the number of ignorant drivers on the roads.

[Joseph]

Great comment.

Hurrah for the letter writer.

[slungerfunger]

Well the Runway extension is about to become a reality. So let's shoot for a Subway System{with a spur to the Underground Mall in Union City},a Moon Launch Facility,a Mental Health Center for our beloved Carpetbaggers.

[Amy4peace]

slungerfunger wrote:

Well the Runway extension is about to become a reality. So let's shoot for a Subway System{with a spur to the Underground Mall in Union City},a Moon Launch Facility,a Mental Health Center for our beloved Carpetbaggers.

You should not say things like that. Some stupid jacka## will think you mean it . LOLOL

[Donny Baker]

slungerfunger wrote:

Well the Runway extension is about to become a reality. So let's shoot for a Subway System{with a spur to the Underground Mall in Union City},a Moon Launch Facility,a Mental Health Center for our beloved Carpetbaggers.

Kind of ironic, on the noon news it was told that the runway bond issue is now a problem. Kinda like deja-vu all over again.

[Ida Tarbell]

The letter may be a joke but...necessity may be the mother of re-invention:

When the first electric trolley car entered service in Erie in 1889, it revolutionized public transportation in the region. Within a few years, Erie became a major trolley hub linking the eastern and central United States. With the exception of a 15-mile gap at Little Falls, one could travel from New York City to Chicago via Erie. Greater Erie Trolleys covers the network of trolley lines that operated between Erie, Conneaut, Buffalo, and Meadville. Greater Erie Trolleys illustrates the vital role trolley cars played in the expansion of the urban population. It documents the beginning of pleasure travel with photographs of the special trolley car excursions from Erie to Elk Park for picnics, dances, and sporting events. Ridership began to decline just as the automobile came on the scene and dirt roads became paved highways. Eventually the lines were abandoned, but the trolleys left an important mark in transportation history.

http://www.amazon.com/Greater-Erie-Trolleys-I...

[K Mac]

Donny Baker wrote:

In a place like NYC where mass transit is the norm, this works. Here, where you rarely see more than two people on a bus, how could possibly think of some justification for this?

I don't agree with the subway idea for many reasons, but you have no idea how many people use mass transit. Try going downtown once in awhile, and you'll see the number of people who ride the bus.

[Donny Baker]

K Mac wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't agree with the subway idea for many reasons, but you have no idea how many people use mass transit. Try going downtown once in awhile, and you'll see the number of people who ride the bus.

Downtown I believe it, but the majority of buses that I see, except for the buses carrying school kids, are rarely being used to their potential. I realize the need for mass transit having grown up in LA, but I feel there is plenty available here now.

[cricket]

Amy4peace wrote:

<quoted text>
I read the posts---she was being sarcastic in her letter to the paper and you fools are taking it for real.-Sad that so many are so stupid!!!

How many people are in Amy4peace's head