In the past, Duke might have gotten away with such a preposterous demand, but dozens of people around town, expecting no payment for their work, have compiled a large number of photos of utilities near recently-built streetcar and light rail tracks in other cities around the country. These photos are not a pie in the face of Duke so much as a pie in the face of those members of the public who allowed themselves to get tricked by Duke's move. To be fair, not all of the utility access points pictured below are the same type as those Duke owns and maintains in Cincinnati, however some surely are.
Portland
Manholes between tracks:
Manholes between tracks:
Immediately next to the tracks:
Next to light rail tracks:
Between tracks:
Immediately next to the tracks (I'm seeing three):
Immediately next to the tracks:
Immediately next to the tracks:
Immediately next to the tracks:
Next to the tracks:
Next to the tracks:
Next to the tracks:
On a station platform:
Immediately next to the tracks:
On the right:
Seattle
Immediately adjacent to the track:
Immediately next to the track (bottom of frame):
Phoenix, AZ light rail
Charlotte, NC light rail
And one more from Portland, OR:
12,874
This is just yet another example of those opposed to the streetcar making unsubstantiated claims that "it won't work".
ReplyDeleteDuke claims utilities must be moved 8 ft. from streetcar lines, even though they provide no examples of cities where this is the standard; and Jake has provided examples of utilities directly underneath or adjacent to streetcar lines.
Some "engineer" pulls out a piece of graph paper and a compass, draws some lines, and claims the streetcar can't possibly make turns at Cincinnati's street corners; despite the fact that actual engineers have actually done this work and have the blueprints to prove that streetcars can safely make these turns.
Some "engineer" claims that streetcars can't possibly make it up a hill as steep as Vine Street; despite the fact that modern streetcars can make it up a hill with a 6% or 7% grade, and Vine Street is less steep than that.
Some "taxpayer watchdogs" claim that the streetcar will drain money from the city; despite the fact that economic studies have been done and independently verified, and show that it will have a 2.7-to-1 benefit-to-cost ratio.
And on and on and on.
Streetcar opponents need to provide real evidence to support their claims, or shut up. The questions have already been asked and answered; they just don't want to listen or do the research.
Oh Travis, please!
ReplyDeleteMark Miller is not an engineer, he's a plumber. Sure, he "engineers" plumbing systems, but he doesn't know jack shit about transportation infrastructure.
The COAST boys can keep complaining all they want. They lost (twice actually). For all we know, they could actually support this project, but it's the perfect piece to stand up and take shots at since the media can't comprehend it and the suburban locals don't know what public transit is.
It has gotten them in the newspaper so many times, that even if Jesus and Ronald Reagan rode in on horses proclaiming it to be God's will, the COASTERS would still hate it to get their name out there.
Ever notice how the Enquirer doesn't give a shit about their Jean Schmidt complaint (and they then WHINE all day on Twitter to the Enquirer about it). They won't change. They're wannabee politicians. Regular guys who think they can be that next congressman who do the bidding of a lawyer that makes a killing suing the city.
Maybe one day they'll grow up, get real jobs.