Contrary to others, I firmly believe that streetcars would be a valuable investment for the city of Madison.

The study that found streetcars to be beneficial to the city of Madison should be seen as great news. By building such a system, Madison would create a separate infrastructure for travel, making public transportation more attractive and time competitive than the current bus system is compared to the automobile. If Madison can continue to build and expand the rail network, streetcars will become an effective tool in taking cars off the road and lessening the effect that transportation pollution has on the environment, specifically carbon dioxide emissions. There has been much opposition to the proposed streetcar system, but Minnesota experienced similar criticism a few years ago. The recent light rail system in Minnesota was regarded with much opposition, but the current line has experienced a 56% increase over expected ridership, and a new line is currently in development. In conjunction, a group in the western suburbs of Minneapolis who formerly opposed light rail in the suburbs is now asking the legislature to speed up the process of bringing light rail to the western suburbs. I say build the streetcar system so the valuable space in Madison is used for a greater purpose than holding our vehicles. One day, I would like to walk two blocks from Witte Hall to State Street without passing two significant parking garages, but with expected increases in automobile use and no viable alternatives in place, I expect to see many more facilities holding the polluting vehicles that damage planet earth.

Chris Thompson ([email protected]) is a freshman studying business.