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03/31/2004: "One For Toronto, One For Nashville"

In time for the 50th anniversary of Toronto's subway system, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin pledged to spend $268 million (U.S. Dollars) over the next five years to modernize and expand Toronto's transit.

Canadian cities are often models her American sisters should look up to. A recognition that cities need transit--cities need permanent arteries to move their blood--is one key to why Canadian cities like Toronto seem more healthy and vigorous than nearby American neighbors like Cleveland and Buffalo.

Inside the U.S., positive movement of rail is thundering the ground in Nashville-- a city long without any rail or fixed transit. When Al Gore was running against George Bush, I often thought a transit comparision between say Nashville and Dallas would leave the Democratic candidate cold. Not that Gore could specifically blamed for the lack of transit in Nashville or Bush credited with a new subway in Dallas.

If that election were held now (and we don't ever want to experience an election like that again) Gore might have more to stand on. A $37.6 million commuter line is planned to link Nashville and Wilson County--the first of five projected commuter lines linking Nashville and its surrounding communities. Don't speak too soon, however. Local officials are sending out the common cry that often kills essential transit projects. They say, mistakenly, the money could be better spent to boost bus service.

Eric Miller, on 03.31.04 @ 07:18PST