Comments on: Rail service from Crozet? It’s not impossible http://www.realcrozetva.com/2008/07/02/rail-service-from-crozet-its-not-impossible/ A community blog for Crozet, Virginia Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Jim Harrison http://www.realcrozetva.com/2008/07/02/rail-service-from-crozet-its-not-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-10279 Jim Harrison Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:22:29 +0000 http://www.realcrozetva.com/2008/07/02/rail-service-from-crozet-its-not-impossible/#comment-10279 I'd also love to see light rail, but an attractive balance of service quality with cost would be required for it to work. Counting fuel and parking, plus a bit extra, the equivalency cost with driving works out to about $4 each way. You'd still need to own a car and be able to drive when necessary, so depreciation and insurance would still be expenses. Service frequency and time spans would need to be reasonable--it would be worth less if missing one train made you very late for work, if there was a risk of getting trapped in C'ville when working late, if coming home early was never an option, or if you couldn't stay in town for dinner sometimes. You would probably also need several boarding/unloading spots in Crozet and C'ville to capture substantial ridership (eg, east and west sides of both towns, perhaps in addition to the central stations). For "last mile" transportation, the Strida (www.strida.us) is an interesting, light and compact alternative to a powered device. I’d also love to see light rail, but an attractive balance of service quality with cost would be required for it to work. Counting fuel and parking, plus a bit extra, the equivalency cost with driving works out to about $4 each way. You’d still need to own a car and be able to drive when necessary, so depreciation and insurance would still be expenses. Service frequency and time spans would need to be reasonable–it would be worth less if missing one train made you very late for work, if there was a risk of getting trapped in C’ville when working late, if coming home early was never an option, or if you couldn’t stay in town for dinner sometimes. You would probably also need several boarding/unloading spots in Crozet and C’ville to capture substantial ridership (eg, east and west sides of both towns, perhaps in addition to the central stations).

For “last mile” transportation, the Strida (www.strida.us) is an interesting, light and compact alternative to a powered device.

]]> By: Don Rich http://www.realcrozetva.com/2008/07/02/rail-service-from-crozet-its-not-impossible/comment-page-1/#comment-10209 Don Rich Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:58:58 +0000 http://www.realcrozetva.com/2008/07/02/rail-service-from-crozet-its-not-impossible/#comment-10209 Let me throw another thought out there. What if you could ride a Segway to the train, take it into C-ville with you for your 'last mile' transportation?!? Its been my experience that the biggest problem with light rail is how to get around once you get to the end of the tracks. DC is now allowing limited use of Segways on Metrorail, and Maryland is currently experimenting with Segways on busses and light rail. What if you could glide to the Crozet station and not take up a parking space when you got there, take the train into Charlottesville, and then were able to ride your Segway directly to your office or appointment. And all without breaking a sweat? I'd love to have that option, and not just because I sell Segways! I'd love to see rail become a viable alternative to Route 250. Don Rich Seg-Ville, Inc. Let me throw another thought out there. What if you could ride a Segway to the train, take it into C-ville with you for your ‘last mile’ transportation?!? Its been my experience that the biggest problem with light rail is how to get around once you get to the end of the tracks. DC is now allowing limited use of Segways on Metrorail, and Maryland is currently experimenting with Segways on busses and light rail. What if you could glide to the Crozet station and not take up a parking space when you got there, take the train into Charlottesville, and then were able to ride your Segway directly to your office or appointment. And all without breaking a sweat? I’d love to have that option, and not just because I sell Segways! I’d love to see rail become a viable alternative to Route 250.

Don Rich
Seg-Ville, Inc.

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