Quote Originally Posted by corktownyuppie View Post
My expertise on this is limited, so I invite anyone to correct me if I'm wrong. I think the problem with LRT from the perspective of an RTA is that the upfront capital cost would be enormous. Far, far more than anything that we're getting from the feds. And given that the suburbs are already reluctant to subsidize operating costs with a regional tax, I don't think the political will exists to write the big check up front.

As has already been stated:

1. The capital costs to construct the Woodward Light Rail were already in place.

2. If you can't afford to run LRT, how can you afford to run buses--which are much more labor and fuel-intensive--on the same route?

3. The suburbs already fund SMART with a regional tax.