The Exercise of Vital Powers

“Remember that every time you use a commuter train on a freight line, some trucks are going to have to be moving onto the road,” said [GPPF's Benita ] Dodd. “I believe first of all that we need the room for our freight. I also believe there is a track record among rail authorities to overestimate their ridership and underestimate their costs.” (Commuter rail could make traffic worse, specialist says | ajc.com)

As reported here, I was elected to serve as a member at large of the Gwinnett Republican Party.

So it begins. Again.

The Brain Train would remove more than 5,000 cars from jammed highways and feeder roads during peak travel times – the equivalent of adding another lane to I-85.
…
Phase One encompasses $311 million in improvements along 36 miles of track between Atlanta and Dacula (paralleling Highway 316 north of Lawrenceville), a number that has become less realistic as time has passed. Phase II, budgeted at $72 million, covers improvements to existing CSX tracks from Lawrenceville to Athens. (source:Driving The Brain Train | GeorgiaTrend.com)

IIRC the cost per lane mile of an interstate is $1Million. The Brain Train would cost $383 Million. It is 35 miles from I85 to Athens on 316 and about 30 miles from 316 to midtown on I85.

383 / (30 + 35 ) = 5.8

So, the cost per mile for the brain train is 5.8 Million per mile. Only a UGA grad would think the Brain Train is more cost effective than lane expansions.

Peach Pundit is taking a look at how Gwinnett County Chairman Charles Bannister did his first year on the job. The following quote jumped out at me:

To that end, Chairman Bannister is anticipating that the county will start getting into the business of boosting economic development itself. In recent years, it has relied upon the Chamber of Commerce for that activity, but now Bannister is talking about the need for an economic development officer “to compete.”

Gee, that sounds an awful lot like what New London and Stockbridge are up to.

Maybe its time I put the Institute for Justice into my speed dial.

I’ll be there. You should too.

From: Todd Pull
To: RLC-GA@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [RLC-GA] Gwinnett Organizational Meeting
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 07:50:42 -0700 (10:50 EDT)

The organizational meeting for the Gwinnett Affiliate is Tuesday the 14th, 7
Pm - 9 Pm, at Jillians - Discovery Mills Mall from 7 Pm - 9 Pm.

The Discovery Mills Mall is off I-85 at Sugarloaf. All are welcome to
attend.

Todd