[Speed Gibson,
Wednesday August 9, 2006 at 2:00am]
As Predicted
Our Hiawatha Light Rail line has "experienced" three fatalities since it opened just over two years ago. The victims were all at fault, all basically trying to sneak across the tracks despite the safety signals and procedures.
But this was also predicted, based on data from other cities. The problem is that these trains are running at street level, through intersections, sometimes at 50 mph or better. Drivers and non-drivers get frustrated with the 3-4 minute cycles at some of these intersections. They take chances, and a few lose.
What's going to happen if we do achieve this dream of LRT everywhere? How many accidents and fatalities can we expect then? Certainly many more, and yet we apparently will keep building them this way because we can't afford to build an elevated system or subway. It's almost like these deaths themselves are being budgeted.
I don't want to sound like Wayne LaPierre, who shamelessly accused the Clinton administration of "willing to accept a certain level of killing" regarding their enforcement of gun laws. But the facts are that Light Rail is making no dent in traffic congestion; it may be adding to it. It is also losing money, a lot many of us think.
Maybe before we expand the risk of death by the next LRT line, our leaders should tell us again why these lines are so vital.
But this was also predicted, based on data from other cities. The problem is that these trains are running at street level, through intersections, sometimes at 50 mph or better. Drivers and non-drivers get frustrated with the 3-4 minute cycles at some of these intersections. They take chances, and a few lose.
What's going to happen if we do achieve this dream of LRT everywhere? How many accidents and fatalities can we expect then? Certainly many more, and yet we apparently will keep building them this way because we can't afford to build an elevated system or subway. It's almost like these deaths themselves are being budgeted.
I don't want to sound like Wayne LaPierre, who shamelessly accused the Clinton administration of "willing to accept a certain level of killing" regarding their enforcement of gun laws. But the facts are that Light Rail is making no dent in traffic congestion; it may be adding to it. It is also losing money, a lot many of us think.
Maybe before we expand the risk of death by the next LRT line, our leaders should tell us again why these lines are so vital.