Viewpoint: A study would replace opinion with facts on modern streetcar for South Bend
The Tribune is to be congratulated for giving front page coverage to the proposed study of a “modern streetcar” to serve portions of our community. The various opinions put forth by folks the reporter contacted are only that ... opinions. And with all due respect to those statements, they miss the objective of the proposed study, which is to replace opinion with fact.
As disappointed in some cases as the RiverRail Task Force members have been in the failure of some community leaders to step up for this study — I say again this “study," which is the goal at this point — the members of the task force will persevere. This is not only because of our collective experience, but most of all because of the overwhelming support for the study which has been expressed formally or informally by neighborhood associations along the proposed routes.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: I love the bus. I grew up riding the bus from River Park to downtown, as my late brother Jon did all the years he worked in community development for past mayors over 20 years.
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Some folks seem to think that this is an “either/or” situation regarding buses. In fact, the bus is the public entity that may have the most to gain. According to HDR, Inc., the firm which we propose conduct the study, bus ridership in Tucson actually went up with the advent of the modern streetcar. This is at least in part because using the bus to make “transfers” to the streetcar system became a new service for riders.
New bus models, smaller and more accessible and maneuverable, though not yet seen much in this country, offer great synergies with modern streetcar systems. One would hope that they take a cue from transit systems which use smaller, environmentally friendly buses and use them to integrate with the modern streetcar system.
The recent studies of our bus service are welcome. Public transit as a “city building” asset: That is one of the RiverRail Task Force study goals, and doesn’t that in fact enhance the prospects for Transpo's growth — its ability to reach more people and be a truly valuable part of a combined streetcar/bus platform for growth and service for the community?
The members of the RiverRail Task Force — all being volunteers with abiding love for South Bend — truly appreciate the willingness of various folks at the community leadership level to offer their opinions. But can't we all agree that opinions only based on cherry-picked references are not doing a service to this community? An objective third-party study is all we seek.
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The combined experience of the core members of the RiverRail Task Force represent an unsurpassed body of experience in public issues, especially community development in its social and economic aspects. We don’t begrudge anyone, whatever title they hold, from offering their opinion. But now is the time to grow beyond opinions. Our community deserves that.
Doug Hunt is a member of the RiverRail Task Force. He is a senior partner of Holladay Properties and represented South Bend/Mishawaka in the Indiana state Senate for 20 years.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend streetcar study needed to replace opinion with facts
