Originally Posted by
baralheia
Fixed-guideway transit is important for moving people, but also to incentivize economic development. I'm firmly of the mind that a line to the airport does not make financial sense if it relies on airport riders alone - there will never be enough pax to support the line in that scenario. We already know the hotels on Meridian are quite busy. Adding a stop near the river at SW 15th and Meridian helps incentivize ridership on the system - both to the Fairgrounds and the wider city beyond - because there is already *some* walkable infrastructure there, and having a stop there would encourage more walkable development. It would also tie in with the river trails network too. An easy win. A stop at the Fairgrounds - even if it were only open for special events - would be another easy win, drawing riders both from the Meridian Ave hotels and from the rest of the city too, allowing car-free access to the Fair and other events. And additionally, a stop near the Farmer's Market district would help that district continue to grow and revitalize itself, as well as provide easier access during events; if you've ever attended a show or event at the Farmer's Market, you know how awful the parking situation is there. This would also provide incentive to grow housing in this area too due to it's proximity to the transit network. Another easy win.
Make the line to the airport as quick as possible while bringing the greatest possible value to the transit network overall through a few strategically located intermediate stops. That's how you ensure success of this proposed service IMO.
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