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January 19, 2007
Watts Up With All The Colored Lines
| You really can't have too much of a good thing. With the success of Jane Dolan's Green Line, Ann Schwab's newly proposed Gold Line, and Anthony Watt's well thought out Blue Line (see "Watts Up With That") , I was concerned that my own legacy might be in jeopardy if I don't step up to the plate and suggest a line of my own. So I am proposing a Chico Red Line. The Red Line will meet a number of real community needs as well as form a philosophical demarcation for the community. The Red Line will provide commuter rail service (underground, to maximize open space). It will run between both the North and South Wal-Marts (unless the North Wal-Mart isn't built, in which case it will stop at Trader Joe's). In addition to providing light rail service to Chico, everyone living west of the redline (or left) will be prohibited from driving automobiles. Farmers west of both the green line and the Red Line will have to farm by hand. Ambulance service will be via tandem bicycle. People living right, or east, of the Red Line must drive automobiles, and will not be allowed to use bicycles or other modes of transportation. This extends to even short trips to the mail box. Red Righty's also cannot attend the Saturday farmers market (on bike or not). I suspect a highly lucrative real estate market will develop along the Red Line with people living on the left side, and working on the right side. On the map I'm working on (for the next Council meeting) there is an area that falls within the green line, gold line, blue line, and red line. I suspect it will become a place where ships and airplanes disappear, where compasses go wild, and where strange lights are seen in the darkest of nights. I have to say the inspiration for this post came from Anthony Watt's and his post on the "blue line". I was planning on doing a post on the idea of a "gold line", but this was more fun. Thanks Anthony. |
Posted by Lon at January 19, 2007 12:00 AM
Comments
Lon, Thanks for the credit. I do have concerns though that the Gold line may not have the equivalent power of the Red, Green, or Blue lines, since Gold is not one of the primary pure colors like those three.
That could weaken it's effectiveness since it might blend into the landscape during late summer.
The next question I have is: Will the Red line qualify for building with RDA fund subsidies or will it be purely part of the Federal Transportation Act subsidies that are handed out yearly?
Posted by: Anthony Watts at January 18, 2007 07:46 PM
Anthony,
You're very welcome.
The gold line may rank lower on the chromatic scales, however as an economic standard gold would certainly be the most precious of lines.
RDA funding is an option, because a lack of colored lines has long been considered blight. But I have a feeling that the red line will most likely be built as part of the requirements for a Costco expansion.
Lon
Posted by: Lon at January 18, 2007 08:13 PM
Ya know, if Ann Schwab had her way, the town of Paradise never would have been allowed...Does the "Gold Line" form at the "Golden Arches"?
It was refreshing to have Schwab excuse herself from the Downtown parking conversations at the last councel meeting. In spite of the long meeting it would have gone later if she attended. I have noticed that many speakers have to explain things out in simple terms for her since she can not follow a conversation.
Posted by: Ms Soup at January 23, 2007 12:58 PM