Boss Godfrey is dragged along by the city council, kicking and screaming
Splendid news for public transit aficionados this morning, as the Standard Examiner reports that the mayoral administration and city council have entered into a joint resolution to fund Emerald City's long-awaited transit-alternatives analysis study and environmental impact review. From this morning's Scott Schwebke story:
As to the latter, we confess we have our doubts. Godfrey has stubbornly dragged his feet on the streetcar concept since the release of the 2005 Ogden Transit Corridor Study, and has made it painfully clear that an urban gondola is his preferred mode of "public transit." Not only that, we suspect that Mr. Godfrey is experiencing significant angst, as he watches the $231,250 in federal funding, which he secretly obtained for a "gondola study", as it's instead applied to a study involving street cars.
This morning's story also mentions three proposed streetcar routes, two of which have been proposed by the administration, and one of which is recommended by the council. As our gentle readers will recall, the council's preferred route is the same route recommended by the "Baker Study" in 2005.
A Weber County Forum Tip O' the Hat this morning to the Ogden City Council, for finally moving street cars to the top of the city agenda, notwithstanding the many roadblocks which Boss Godfrey has placed in the streetcar's path. Hopefully the city council will continue to keep Godfrey's feet to the fire, with respect to this very important Ogden City transit project. We have a strong sense that Boss Godfrey is being dragged kicking and screaming into this project, and that keeping this project moving along will require considerable continuing resolve on the council's part.
Comments are invited as always. There are plenty of issues to be discussed, such as the merit (if any) of Godfrey's objection to the council's preferred route, and his arguments in favor of the two with the more southerly east-west "connector legs."
Have at it, gentle readers.
Splendid news for public transit aficionados this morning, as the Standard Examiner reports that the mayoral administration and city council have entered into a joint resolution to fund Emerald City's long-awaited transit-alternatives analysis study and environmental impact review. From this morning's Scott Schwebke story:
OGDEN — The city council and city administration adopted a joint resolution Tuesday night to fund part of a $750,000 study that may lead to the establishment of a streetcar system along the busy downtown to Weber State University-McKay-Dee Hospital corridor.Boss Godfrey is quoted this morning as being "pleased the resolution has been adopted so the study can get under way. 'We are glad to see it move forward,'” Godfrey says.
The city’s share of the study that will include a transit-alternatives analysis and environmental impact review will be $290,000.
Funding would come from $231,250 in Utah Transit Authority federal money pledged for local transportation studies and $58,750 set aside in the city’s fiscal 2009 budget, said Bill Cook, the council’s executive director.
As to the latter, we confess we have our doubts. Godfrey has stubbornly dragged his feet on the streetcar concept since the release of the 2005 Ogden Transit Corridor Study, and has made it painfully clear that an urban gondola is his preferred mode of "public transit." Not only that, we suspect that Mr. Godfrey is experiencing significant angst, as he watches the $231,250 in federal funding, which he secretly obtained for a "gondola study", as it's instead applied to a study involving street cars.
This morning's story also mentions three proposed streetcar routes, two of which have been proposed by the administration, and one of which is recommended by the council. As our gentle readers will recall, the council's preferred route is the same route recommended by the "Baker Study" in 2005.
A Weber County Forum Tip O' the Hat this morning to the Ogden City Council, for finally moving street cars to the top of the city agenda, notwithstanding the many roadblocks which Boss Godfrey has placed in the streetcar's path. Hopefully the city council will continue to keep Godfrey's feet to the fire, with respect to this very important Ogden City transit project. We have a strong sense that Boss Godfrey is being dragged kicking and screaming into this project, and that keeping this project moving along will require considerable continuing resolve on the council's part.
Comments are invited as always. There are plenty of issues to be discussed, such as the merit (if any) of Godfrey's objection to the council's preferred route, and his arguments in favor of the two with the more southerly east-west "connector legs."
Have at it, gentle readers.
