With stops in Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook!
Posted on 04/30/2010 9:24:22 AM PDT by Willie Green
The Facts:
At the Chancellor’s Liaison meeting Wednesday, Chancellor Randy Woodson challenged administrators and student leaders to act boldly.
Our Opinion:
What could be more bold than a visionary statement on campus? A monorail or a like-kind transit system would benefit the entire community in many ways.
At Chancellor Randy Woodson’s first Chancellor Liaison meeting at N.C. State Wednesday, he put forth some bold challenges to University administrators and student leaders. Among those, he challenged the group to fight bureaucracy at the University and dream big.
It’s warming to see a man, a chancellor, who is in touch with the problems the University faces and isn’t afraid to call for a grandiose vision; it’s a good lesson for the rest of it.
Part of dreaming big and riding along the autobahn of innovation is looking for opportunities to expand the campus’ scope, driving it to its limits —new horizons.
Centennial Campus is a very real opportunity to realize this kind of groundbreaking change in the University’s midst; its campus of the future, which stretches down Centennial Parkway and out to Trailwood Drive, has incredible potential if its faculties are fully utilized.
However, to witness that utilization of this incredible resource, students, faculty, staff and alumni must be able to effectively move between the campuses in a reasonable fashion.
The University, its student and community, must demand a pensive response from the administrators who are instrumental in ensuring that projects like a rapid-transit system between the campuses takes off.
Let’s build a monorail. Let’s build underground walkways. Let’s do something imaginative, creative and befitting of the state’s foremost technological learning institution.
On a very basic level, a high-capacity rapid-transit system is a need the University identified when it developed its long-term physical master plan. Taking advantage of that need and seizing it as an opportunity to create something great for the University is a bonus.
It sounds comical, but it’s really not. A monorail or other really inventive system falls into the category of identifying a need and filling it. This campus is going to have to figure out a way to conquer transportation issues, rapidly growing classrooms and declining class offerings. It’s going to take extraordinary solutions on a monorail scale. Perhaps it’s time we all find a little of that inventiveness within ourselves.
I usually poke fun at Willie’s threads with Lyle Langley references, but in this particular geographic area a monorail MIGHT come closer than usual to making economic sense.
I guess the Wolfpack doesn’t do busses.
Sounds Great!
Let’s just increase the student tuition to cover the costs of construction.
How do monorails compare with light rail systems?
I’ve never been clear on that.
Are you aware of any good work on this?
“What about us brain dead slobs?”
This thread is screaming for Monorail Cat.
How about a couple of buses?
YESSSSS!!!!
It’s Monorail Cat.
“I call the big one Bitey.”
How’s that Vegas one working out..he..he.
At least monorails don't share rights of ways with cars.
I'd think over the long haul that light rail is more expendable and flexible, as well as cost effective. The biggest advantage monorail has is that it likely requires less right of way, as it can be built over existing roadways, at least in part.
Of course, you could have an elevated rail as well, but then a lot of its costs advantages go way.
Why don’t they increase offerings of distance learning courses, thus reducing the need for bodies to actually be on campus in the first place.
It would be much less expensive, I’m sure.
How do monorails compare with light rail systems?
I’ve never been clear on that.
The obvious difference is that monorails travel on an overhead track while light rail is built on ground level. So although the overhead track usually costs more to build, it doesn't interfere other ground level traffic on the roads, which is a big benefit both in efficiency and safety.
Are you aware of any good work on this?
No, but we can try looking here.
Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there’s nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What’d I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What’s it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That’s right! Monorail!
[crowd chants `Monorail’ softly and rhythmically]
Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...
Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley: You’ll be given cushy jobs.
Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I’m on the level.
Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear it’s Springfield’s only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What’s it called?
All: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: Once again...
All: Monorail!
Marge: But Main Street’s still all cracked and broken...
Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!
[big finish]
Monorail!
Homer: Mono... D’oh!
You’ll be given cushy jobs.
Yeah, I hear that song too whenever I read about monorails.
It was pretty catchy.
Monorail!
So, how long would it be before the fares pay for the system?
Oh, you mean that other people will pay for it even if they don’t ride it. Like Amtrak?
If one of these schemes were a good idea, private enterprise would have built it long ago and it would be so desirable to ride that people would pay what it actually cost to ride it.
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