Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:30:04 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
From: Candy Madigan <candymadigan at mindspring.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Metro is 30
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

At 11:24 AM 3/28/2006, you wrote:

>Or they're doing the best they can with what money they have?
>
>I'm not familiar enough with the current politics-fare box issues of
>Metro, but I suspect Metro has a lack of cash situation and local
>governments unwilling to properly support the system.
>
>But I live in Baltimore with our own wacky "mass transit" system...

I have said for years (and of course, everyone always tells me how wrong I
am) that we need to raise gas prices to $15/gallon and use the extra money
to pay for mass transit.  The reason I (and I am guessing most people like
me) don't use public transportation is that it is totally inconvenient and
doesn't go where I need to go when I need to go there.  Back a billion
years ago when I lived in Takoma Park, I also worked on Bolling AFB.  I
waited with bated breath for the Green Line to open so I could use it to
get to work.  Then it opened.  It took more than twice as long to get from
my house to my office by Metro than it did by car, and we won't even
mention the fact that I could get nowhere near my baby sitter's house.

I'd happily subsidize public transportation with exhorbitant taxes on gas
if I thought I would eventually benefit from it, but as long as it doesn't
go where I am going, when I am going there, I'm not going to be using
it.  And I'm sorry, but an hour walk to get to (and/or from) on the way is
unacceptable.

Candy
(301)345-6635