Parking Spaces Aren't the Answer
Parking Spaces Aren't the AnswerKAKE Blog Listing
Parking Spaces Aren't the Answer
Topic Author: Jared Cerullo
Posted: 8:32 PM Jul 16, 2009
Replies Posted: 2 comments
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I was in Old Town last weekend and was really happy to see the district packed with people.  There was a car show going on.  Old Town was hoppin'.  The atmosphere was great!

As I left to go home late that night, I said to a friend how neat it would be if Old Town was like that all the time.  Sure, the bars play a role in the business climate of Old Town, but it can't be just that.  Give us a reason to go to Old Town and stay.  Not just get drunk and go home.

Part of our conversation turned to the new downtown arena.  The issue of parking was brought up yet again.  Folks, parking spaces aren't the answer.  If this town is going to progress and move forward, we have to ditch the small town notion that you have to use your car to get around everywhere.

Have you ever been to Wrigley Field in Chicago?  How many parking lots does that stadium have?  None.  I also recently went to a concert at one of the largest stadiums in Ireland.  It's called Thomond Park and it seats about 30,000 people.  I saw one parking lot and it had room for about 20 cars.

It's all about public transportation.  I truly believe that, for this city to move forward and stop this flight to the suburbs, we must come up with some sort of user-friendly public transportation system.

I've blogged in the past about how Wichita's bus system is horrible.  I don't believe buses are the answer for the city as a whole, either.  Sure, focus a number of bus routes around the core of the city so people can get around once they get in, but I really believe we need a light rail system that brings everybody in from all areas north, south, east and west.

Now, how to raise the hundreds-of-millions of dollars it will take to do this?  Good question.  Maybe Jeff Herndon can answer that.

How about some of your ideas?  Let me know what you think.

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  • by Jon Location: Wichita on Jul 20, 2009 at 11:57 AM
    We need an idea the city, county, and even region agree on and a long detail oriented plan with room for adjustments and growth. My spur of the moment idea is why not utilize railroads and build a mass transit in correlation with it. You can put the rail lines next to rail lines we have all over the city,(or use abandoned rail lines) and maybe strategically place a few short lines around. This is just a spur of the moment thought so keep that in mind.
  • by Anonymous on Jul 17, 2009 at 08:09 PM
    Where are you going to purpose we get this money? How about another sells tax, at least once the economy gets back on it's feet.
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