[N3WBI3]

(10 million riders my ass-how many actually paid to ride?)

1) That number *is* the paid rides!
2) I live in Eagan and work in Saint Paul yet even I have used that system (round trip between Fort Snelling and Downtown) 7 times this year. four for a a training class downtown and three for baseball games.
3) Is not a light rail to nowhere (go to Buffalo NY to see on of those systems) it goes to two airport terminals, the mall of America and the largest city in the state. 4) It makes it from the MOA to Downtown faster than I can drive it (assuming I keep the speed limits)..

Other than that your criticisms of the Mayor are valid..

[Rakkasan1]

how do you know that many paid . it's an "honor system" is it not? (IE:there's no real enforcement of any type.)

[MNJohnnie]

Gee wonder how much you would use it if you actually had to pay the real user costs instead of getting another state wide subsidy for a Minneapolis only benefit. Wonder how many of the Light Rail riders could more then affords to pay the price that is being subsided by taking tax money from the working class state wide? Gee wonder how many linkage bus routes we could of bought for a $ 1 billion instead of a rail line that ONLY goes from point a to b and back? But gee the Urbanites and the Professional Pols get to feel real good about themselves. Just don't point out that it does NOTHING for congestion NOTHING for urban renewal and NOTHING for pollution. Too bad it is quite possibly the most inefficient use of Govt resources in State History and nothing but a "prestige" placebo.

But once again, everyone is a "conservatives" about OTHER peoples spending never when the Govt spends ON them.

[Egon]

4) It makes it from the MOA to Downtown faster than I can drive it (assuming I keep the speed limits)..

Partly because all the lights on Hwy 55 are now timed to only allow the parallel traffic to proceed if there's a training coming. I've spent up to 9 minutes at EACH LIGHT waiting with NOBODY moving, for the next train to come by to allow all of us to continue. Hwy 55 is now virtually impassible.

Makes me wonder if they are doing that on purpose to bring truth to your statement.