Jim Nasty

Yes I've been up there. Its pretty much gutted. You can walk on the third floor from AJ's into Harry's BBQ building. It would require a lot of work but it can pretty much be used for anything. AJ's building is being turned into 'Tap It'...another craft bar. That's the one thing I don't like about what's happening downtown. Now with AJ's moving, you've got 3 sports bars right beside each other, there's 3 juice/smoothie type of places. Several sushi places. It just seems like they'd cannibalize business from each other.

I never said that light-rail would be profitable. Another poster suggest raising the fares. I did the analysis based on the fact that raising fares accomplishes nothing.

BTW I talked to a police officer on Friday. They are being paid overtime to ride the Tide (and cops are lining up for shifts) and will continue to do so for at least 6 months. He told me how much but i was drinking and cant remember exactly what was said. I believe it was $25 an hour. I think he also says the overtime varies based on the gig that they're working. Their goal is to check 1-in-10 riders. I didnt think to ask if they are achieving that rate at this time.

I dont really think the fares are for making money for the Tide, i think its to keep the bums off of it while nurturing the Transient-Oriented Development that is the true payoff-promise for the Tide. According to the Wikipedia article below, the Tide's costs to build were $318 million. Annual maintenance is expected to cost $6.2 million. At a daily ridership of 2,900 riders per day, the numbers breakdown like this: 2900 X $1.50 = $4,350 dollars per day$318,000,000 / $4,350 dollars per day = 73,103 days to pay cost of building / 365 days = 200 years to payback cost to build In 20 years they expect it to be 7,200 riders. I know the costs will go up, but just for fun, im using todays fare.7,200 X $1.50 = $10,800 per day = 29,444 days to pay cost of building / 365 days = 80 years to payback cost to build If annual maintenance costs $6.2 million, and the ridership is at 2900, $4350 * 365 days = $1,587,750 in fare revenue per year, still way below the costs. At 7200 riders, $10,800 per day * 365 days = $3,942,000 in fare revenue per year. This still doesnt pay for what the maintenance costs are going to be for next year. Since the annual costs of maintaining the tide is going to continue to be more costly than the revenue generated by it, ridership alone will never pay for the Tide. Even if the fares are raised over the years, the cost to maintain the Tide will increase as well. Therefore i maintain that we should keep down the fares low enough to keep it a convenience but high enough to keep off the riff-raff. Salt Lake City has a free fare within their core Central Business District and i would like our system to evolve to something like that at some point. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide_Light_Rail

Picture from this morning at the future MacArthur Square station.

Looks like Norfolk's investment in light-rail is already starting to pay-off!

Awesome pic, Jack; and welcome! I think there is horse poo in it, to boot!

IMHO, I don't think its lack of foresight that'll make LR over-budget, its a reality of the times. These projects have been studied and bid on using prices that were real two years ago. With the rise in costs of oil, everything becomes more expensive. All the pile drivers, arrow signs, concrete mixers etc. etc. which use gas in doing the most mundane of tasks are not an expense you quantify by what you see on the gas price sign @ WaWa. Oil prices are hitting every contractor, their bidding jobs that cover their costs so they can keep the jobs coming. Making a profit is secondary and getting it in on time is an afterthought. That all being said, for the most part, except for the park-and-ride issue of late, things seem to be moving along pretty good with LR.

I'm sorry if this has already been posted. I've looked several pages back. I think its old...everything is expressed in 2006 dollars, but I cant seem to find any other renderings of most of the line. If someone has something more up-to-date, will you please post it?? Norfolk Light Rail Planning and Environmental Impact

One more question. Are there any renderings or information available about the planned Town Point Park renovation? Thanks!

Im a little torn in this regard. I like the history of the place and I hear it is beautiful on the inside (chandaliers etc.). But the red-brick of the place, IMHO, is garish and off-putting. It doesn't look very inviting to me (but I guess its very inviting to the homeless they cater to). Maybe with work it will look better, but I wouldn't be too upset if they tore it down.

Oops! Sorry! Thanks for the link

I haven't seen anyone post this, so here you go! Monticello Building