2 ms·

> If light rail were put up on it, the value of the adjoining real estate would suddenly go way up and the density would appear. That would require rezoning lo

> If light rail were put up on it, the value of the adjoining real estate would suddenly go way up and the density would appear. That would require rezoning low density residential areas, which is practically impossible. > About a 10 minute walk (I've done it). Oh, the agony :-) I've done it too. For a pedestrian, 8th street is a complete hellscape. How many people working/living in downtown would enjoy adding 10*2 minutes of hell each day to their commute? > With modern technology, one set can service both directions safely. How often is this done? If this would save costs, then all the new lines should be doing this, but I don't see it happening anywhere. > Or it could be - maintained. Bridges have a finite lifespan, and the trestle is almost 120 years old. It won't last forever, even if maintained.

WalterBright 4y ago
> That would require rezoning low density residential areas If they can blast new right of way through it, they can rezone it. > For a pedestrian, 8th street is a complete hellscape I agree. I recommend 10th instead. > How often is this done? Beats me. With modern tech, how hard can it be? It'll work up to a certain level of traffic, then a second track will be needed, and it'll be obvious and the funds will be easier to get. > Bridges It only has to last long enough to prove the need. And light rail, being light, is not going to stress it. The thing was built for heavy freight traffic.
- teh_klev 4y ago
  >>> There's also the problem that the old rail is just one set of tracks, and so another set would be needed anyhow. >> How often is this done? > Beats me. With modern tech, how hard can it be? All that's need is a handful of passing loops and modern signalling. It's how we in Scotland got the railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank re-opened (part of the old Waverley route from Edinburgh to Carlisle that was closed during the Beeching cuts). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_Route https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_Route https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borders_Railway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borders_Railway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeching_cuts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeching_cuts

WalterBright 4y ago

> That would require rezoning low density residential areas If they can blast new right of way through it, they can rezone it. > For a pedestrian, 8th street is a complete hellscape I agree. I recommend 10th instead. > How often is this done? Beats me. With modern tech, how hard can it be? It'll work up to a certain level of traffic, then a second track will be needed, and it'll be obvious and the funds will be easier to get. > Bridges It only has to last long enough to prove the need. And light rail, being light, is not going to stress it. The thing was built for heavy freight traffic.

teh_klev 4y ago
>>> There's also the problem that the old rail is just one set of tracks, and so another set would be needed anyhow. >> How often is this done? > Beats me. With modern tech, how hard can it be? All that's need is a handful of passing loops and modern signalling. It's how we in Scotland got the railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank re-opened (part of the old Waverley route from Edinburgh to Carlisle that was closed during the Beeching cuts). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_Route https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_Route https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borders_Railway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borders_Railway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeching_cuts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beeching_cuts