elrodvt

Yeah, really couldn't care less about tall office buildings. Almost view negatively.

@kermit, That's not the idea or at least not mine. I think the Gastonia on demand model is nuts too. I'm also not saying this is the end all idea. But having more data is always very valuable when trying to optimize a system. Uber,Lyft etc are a gold mine of data on when trips happen and their end points. For example, the analysis might show you that with relatively small changes to an existing route you might pick up quite a few riders by adding a crosswalk, extra frequency 5-6pm and 1 extra stop to service a mid block office building. Now would it often coincide with med to high density paths and be along a current route? Sure, of course, but it's a cheap and effective potential optimization which we're blind to or im assuming we are? A little tangent - Or they'll try for the bus across the street without a 6 block hike in the August sun due to a missing crosswalk and get run over (listened to a NYT daily podcast today about how pedestrian deaths have soared in the South which, although based on a lot of conjecture, was really interesting and they made just this point about crosswalks). I can think of many data driven optimizations we could potentially investigate. It'd be a pretty cost effective project if the data were available. I developed data warehouses and analytics so am admittedly biased to data being the answer to many problems. :⁠-⁠)

It would be interesting though if state agencies would be given access to Uber and the likes data in order to hone their bus routes? I assume they don't have that and it would require legislation which is not possible in NC to compel it? It would make an interesting study to determine how close and often a route would have to run to entice people to not take an Uber but instead ride the bus? Perhaps we should stop subsidizing Uber by charging them a realistic registration and gas tax. Haha.

@Professor, I know it wasn't the focus of your post and this is way off the Bearden topic but I just have to comment that you are in for a rude surprise if you expect to live in a nursing home for 1200 a month! We shopped extensively and had to go out of state to get under 4k for my mom last year. Then they said she needed memory care because she wandered once and we're over 5. I'm told we're very lucky... Maybe your thinking after all assets are spent down and your essentially a ward of the state in a Medicaid facility? Shivers...

I went too (have seasons). That kid Patterson had what must've been the game of his life in those last few minutes. It's a shame their attendance is so poor. It's a nice facility and used to have some pretty good teams and attendance when they were in the A10. The football moves and subsequent C-USA conference decline really hurt basketball in my view. But I'm not a football fan Let's hope this year's American conference move helps to bring the level of recruiting and competition back up. FAU was certainly a great story last year! Queens is now in a low level D1 conference and their games are great to bring kids to. Pretty low key. I try to go to several of their games each year

I'm curious about Calgary having never been there. What are the big draws? I believe Calgary has a big rodeo? Before you laugh, believe it or not, when I lived in Denver I went to a rodeo in Cheyenne several times and that was an absolute blast. They used to run a refurbished steam engine up from Denver to Cheyenne with food, drinks and live music & dancing. Was a huge hit with our out of town visitors.

To spend tax $ on this in light of NC's inability to fund state and local basic priorities is irresponsible. I doubt that will affect our leaders decision making though. I still believe this is beyond a long shot but I'll be first in line to buy tickets if it happens!

Denver has a situation that seems to me to be very similar to our Davidson one. Residents of Boulder believe they got the short end of the stick when RTD converted the Denver to Boulder plan from commuter rail to a BRT plan. This after residents voted for higher sales tax and have paid it many years. Then RTD determined that based on new estimates (after they gained a lot of experience) it was not the right choice economically. From what I read i believe RTD did the right thing and think it's applicable here. We should focus on reducing headways and increasing reliability before more rail expansion. The last I read Boulder brt will open in '25. We can learn from how that goes.

Yeah,Especially when we can't fund our transit system. At least I assume many problems go back to cheaping out. Can't agree with your Portland take. At least they have a downtown. I don't know about growth numbers as you do but willing to bet they bounce back. Too many attractive elements not to.

Very low. And it's kinda dumb. Let them go be mediocre in the SEC.

They have bike lanes there.

Good review. I think there are plenty of interesting cities more or less our size (although I can't think of one in the South off hand). With the right leadership and a different ncga it's possible to turn this ship. Our city leaders go visit them to benchmark but I've yet to see anything concrete come from it.

@kaymanisn't there a technological difference though?

↑are you sure of that? I've ridden and lived there when it was being built and I could've sworn they called it something other than LRT ? It felt different too. That said, I don't know the exact definitions personally.

Thanks for posting that statement. Do people here think this will just add more politics and inaction?