April 10, 2007
Sanders on Board with Loop Proposal
Our friends at Downtown Partnership have informed us that Mayor Jerry Sanders has asked MTS to study the feasibility of a high-frequency downtown loop. While not exactly a ringing endorsement, the fact that the mayor chose to write a memo suggests that his office at least favors the idea over MTS's "let's jackhammer Seventh Ave and run four-car trains" proposal.
Of course, BetterTrolley wholeheartedly endorses the new loop line, and I think it will better serve the downtown area, and provide better service to the Convention Center. I can't think of a situation where higher-frequency service hurts the ridership.
An interesting difference between the memo and previously-floated ideas is that the mayor is requesting that riders transfer to the new line at Santa Fe Depot. This could require driver turnarounds at Santa Fe Depot (similar to what happens now at Old Town). There's no interlocking tracks at the Broadway Y, so it will be interesting to see how they would do that. (Personally, I don't see a problem with having people get off at Santa Fe, and walk across the street to America Plaza.)
Posted by BetterTrolley Conductor at April 10, 2007 05:17 PM