It delights me when the opportunity arises to provide another point
of view about urban transit. Here is one by Russ Peterson, a Felton
Gables neighbor who has given much thought to these issues which we
have discussed in these emails over the past several years.

Martin
=============================================
>My offer to the VISION of transit for the Peninsula and Greater Bay
>Area is busing. Here's why:
>
>- Flexibility of equipment - diesel, hybrid diesel, electric, CNG,
>whatever, is the BEST technology to accomplish the mission
>(convenient service that people will want to use). Note: electric
>means both wired and 100% battery powered (new technology from a
>company in Reno, NV, is allowing new hi-density power packs to fully
>charge a battery pack in 5-10 minutes not hours).
>
>- Flexibility of Routing - move with the redevelopment plans of any
>city, the swings in job growth/decline, and the location/relocation
>of employers. Adjust to special events scheduling on the fly such
>as ball games, conventions, and even offer something for long term
>events like the Olympics.
>
>-Flexibility of Scheduling - More and smaller units can provide
>expanded services through smart technologies linked directly to a
>commuters pass. For example, an empty unit pulls into Sunnyvale
>station and 5 people want to go to Stanford Hospital. If the system
>knows 10 more people up the line want to go to Stanford and
>historical data suggests at least 5 more should arrive at stations
>soon the system can dedicate a unit to that trip. Likewise it can
>add another unit for passengers traveling elsewhere that the first
>unit would not pick up.
>
>- Economic Flexibility - grow the system more incrementally than a
>large, captive, rail system with associated capital costs and
>rights-of-way acquisitions. Start by using surface streets and if
>the need truly grows then truly grow the system. Now, we try to
>grow after we think there is a need--which means people have already
>been forced to use their cars to get where they are going (try
>pulling them out after that).
>
>- Environmental Flexibility - Express or "hi-speed" equipment may
>differ from local route units based on getting the most
>environmentally sound units for that purpose (long trips, short
>trips, hi-speed, etc.). This would allow for a Better Environmental
>solution to reduce pollutants over our current systems. The side
>benefit appears that, however politically incorrect this is, the
>poor can go by local bus and the wealthy "commuters" can go by
>hi-speed equipment if that is truly what is happening per recent
>studies.
>
>It may be tilting at windmills but this is where things have to go
>to meet the actual needs of commuters...where is the Sierra Club and
>CalPIRG when you need them.
>
>Regards,
>
>Russ

-- 
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Martin Engel
1621 Stone Pine Lane
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650:323-1670
martinengel@earthlink.net
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