Forgot to mention this yesterday, but as one who has worked at the south end of Assembly for over 20 years, about three or four years of which (by my highly scientific estimate) have been spent waiting for trains to move — and mind you, I long ago learned every trick for getting around them, but sometimes it’s impossible — I was deeply grateful to Mayor Bob for setting forth a vision for ridding us of this curse.
I’m not sure the city can afford it, and I’m not necessarily convinced that if it had the money it shouldn’t spend it on other things, but I do appreciate the thought.
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Unlike Brad I don’t work off of South Assembly but I can’t think of a better use of taxpayers money than relocating the RR tracks. Given the explosive growth in residential housing near the stadium this project seems like it should be favorable from a cost/benefit perspective. It could be funded in large part from the state infrastructure bank and/or some type of federal grant. Get the Railroads to kick in a few bucks and the city would not have to be overly burdened financially.
I’ve been caught at a crossing going to a USC football game before. Now how utterly unbelievable is that? I’m sure there must be some time restrictions on the railroads that could be eliminated if the tracks were not at street level, so it seems like this would be a win-win for everyone. The savings in gasoline alone would probably run in the thousands every year.
What about the businesses along that track which were located there because the MUST have rail delivery?
Lee, The trains will still be there but below grade. Any company that has rail service would have to be accommodated. I would stress this will be a long term project. We have, thanks to John Hardee former SC Depratment of Transportation Commissioer, a federal planning grant for the railroad track relocation.
make that “Commissioner.”
Bob Coble either has a new contractor buddy that needs a big project, or a pal that needs RR removed so a development can be done.
As with everything in the City of Cola it is about relationships and taxpayer money.
Actually, there is no reason in the world to think such of Bob Coble. You obviously don’t know him.
As for “taxpayer money” — well, that’s why we have these discussions, to help each other decide what we think is worth spending money on, and let the mayor and other elected officials know what we conclude…
There is a laundry list of such pork projects, Brad. Most of the city projects consist of taxpayers’ pockets being picked in order to subsidize real estate development, The Vista, Canalside, Green Diamond, Harbison, upteenth marketing studies, Innovista, the Convention Center, defunct hotel deal, Air South, Assembly Street condemnations, etc.
Ol “Yes Bob” with his rubber stamp needs to prioritize his responsibilities. His main priority needs to be hiring a decent city manager rather than worrying about train schedules. Between the mayor, Columbia city council and Richland County council the smartest thing I ever did was move across the river.
Here’s a nice article from Reuters showing how the occupation of Iraq REALLY is about oil and the enrichment of the big oil companies. You have to dig deep to find this stuff but it shows what a sham all the reasons for going in have turned out to be. Needless to say you may as well skip the State in trying to find balance. Between the gushing over the troops and the hero worship of the war-mongers there isn’t any space left to provide even a tiny bit of perspective:
BAGHDAD, March 19 (Reuters) – The Iraqi government is expected to pay up to $2.5 billion to five top oil companies to increase the country’s oil output by nearly a quarter, a government adviser told Reuters on Wednesday.
In what would be the biggest foreign involvement for decades, Baghdad is close to signing technical support contracts with BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Total.
Thamir Ghadhban, energy adviser to Iraq’s prime minister, said he expected the contracts, which would add 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) to current production of 2.27 million bpd, would be signed by early next month.
“There is a rough estimate that it could cost about $400 to $500 million per field,” he said in an interview.
Someone should have checked with the county. The Assembly Street railroad grade separation ranks highly on the priority list that their transportation study commission is putting together, along with Hardscrabble Road and a few others. If there is a referendum in November, this project could very well be on the list.
Good news, bud! Iraq will be selling its oil on the open market at the highest prices in history, instead of having it stolen by UN honchos for $8.00 a barrel, like it was when Clinton was hiding under his desk.
That’s why Bin Laden says, “Iraq was, and is, the central battleground against the West.” – oil to finance worldwide terror, and a base to attack Palestine, Lebanon and Israel.