Tracks to the Future

I spent the day in Fort Worth at another regional transportation conference with Joshua City Manager Paulette Hartman and Councilman Tom Tallent. The more I'm exposed to the information the more I see the necessity of the discussion and the need for action.

Today's discussion was more specifically directed at light and commuter rail lines to connect our region and streetcar systems in the central business districts of Fort Worth and Dallas. These are not overnight projects, but part of a vision towards 2050 to ensure that the next generation of North Texans will enjoy a quality of life as good or better than we have now and a region that is navigable, prosperous and healthy.

I wasn't back in our county for more than a half hour when after relaying some information about what was talked about today I was asked "why does that matter to me as a resident of Joshua?" Great question! The fact that that question is asked illustrates one of the biggest challenges we face in accomplishing the goal. The public does not understand the necessity for a change and how it will benefit them. I'll go into greater detail in future posts on the subject, but anyone who has traveled from Cleburne to Fort Worth recently understands the need for alternate transportation options.

Back to answering the question - regional mobility has much broader reaching implications than just getting people from place to place. That's the foundation of what's going on, but why are people going to these places to begin with? To work, shop, worship, for services, entertainment and a host of other general reasons and a limitless number of specific ones. We wake, we move about, we sleep. It is life. One aspect in quality of life is getting our moving about done efficiently. Not to mention safely and inexpensively. Mass transit also has an environmental element to it. Whether you think global climate change is human caused or not (I don't) it's still in the best interest of the planet and we inhabitants need to keep it as clean as we can and fewer automobiles will help do that. The last major benefit of regional rail is the economic development to the areas it will serve. Experience has shown that rail stations and other mass transit stops spur growth in the vicinity and that's good for Joshua and any other city fortunate enough to be part of the system.

In future posts I'll talk more about the roadblocks we face here in North Texas to getting this accomplished, but for now we just need to start thinking about it and talking about it.

A.J.
A.J. Mathieu

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