Trolley feasibility study to be presented to DDA

This is a reason why the DDA needs to be disbanded. Their priorities are out of whack. Not long ago, they wanted to defund First Friday, the one event that has probably had more impact on downtown revitalization than anything else. What does the DDA think is important? Clocks that don't tell time, $50,000 sidewalks in front the offices of one of their cronies, and now a trolley novelty that will cost tens of millions. The study along cost enough pay the salary of a police officer downtown for a year. This when we can't even get a decent bus system. Please someone pull the plug on this elitist society club called the DDA. Downtown would do better off without their red tape and misguided priorities.

wow... somebody's bitter. i say yes to progress, and this is progress.

progress will be getting a halfway decent bus system for the people who rely on public transit as their sole means of getting around.. this trolley novelty will be of little help to them. Want a trolley so bad? Then get a used tourist bus that looks like a trolley and loop it up and down broad street. The downtown BID could pay for it if they think it is necessary. I have seen that done in other cities, but spending $10 million a mile on a light rail system at a time when the city is practically broke is just insane.. and believe me, it will cost more, probably double their project (like the TEE Center).

Emery the city used to have those touristy bus things back in the ninties. I think the powers "that been" ended up selling them to either Jacksonville, Savannah, or Charleston.

We can barely fund the bus system. How the heck do these people think the city can fund the trolley system? Heck, the maintenance and upkeep alone must be astronomical!

Apparently the clock doesn't work because First Friday bands use its power source for their speakers.

Several years ago, two BUS routes were proposed (following the same streets in this map) which would make it convenient for the medical community to get to downtown restaurants and businesses. A second route would have made use of the existing parking garages off Reynolds Street to move people around Broad, Greene and Telfair - an economic boost, no parking problems and use of what we already have. I think the trolleys went to Myrtle Beach ...

Use Ft Discovery for the TEE and make sure the hotels and Ft Disovery are on a route together for visitors.

This is a joke ...right?

The Trolley buses were given to the CVB and they SOLD them to Charleston! The DDA is an obstacle to progress downtown because it steers funds to select groups ONLY. One instance was when they loaned $370,000.00 of SPLOST money earmarked for downtown development to Mr. Boardman to buy two properties in Olde Town. There was no fees or interest charge to him and the loan was for four years. The money could have earned at least 3% just sitting in the bank. Another is the 10th Street 'Streetscape' program that took two years to complete and really isn't any better that any other street repaved. And oh by the way, it was WAY over budget too. The very fact that teh DDA spent $37,000.00 on this study shows that Paul King and the other members have their heads up..in the clouds. IDIOTIC. More money and time wasted. They coould have placed 50 benches along Broad Street, 100 new trash cans, 20 new street lights, rented a building for a Sheriff Sub Station for several years, refurbished the old benches in Centennial Park or River Walk, ANYTHING that we NEED rather than another friggin study that will go nowhere. Instaed of closing the 'Patch' Golf Course, close the DDA and cut the funds to CVB

Close the Patch. I can get better golf for the same price at Applewood or Pointe South. The Patch is a terrible golf course with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Kill the Patch and spend the money on the people of Richmond County.

This is ridiculous. The money they are willing to spend on something most people won't use can be better spent somewhere else. The only time this "trolley" will ever have any use is during the almighty Masters and that doesn't make up for the cost. The DDA should be ashamed of themselves for proposing such a stupid idea with Augusta needing much more important things than a trolley bus. All this based on someone's school project, really?

This is one of the worst ideas that Augusta has come up with. Augusta doesn't need a trolley. If the medical community wants to go downtown, why don't they ride the bus?

http://www.urscorp.com/Divisions/index.php?s=43. Wow, a company that designs, develops, engineers, and constructs rail and transit systems says this is a good idea. Who'd a thunk it?

augusta needs a good bus system which can get people to work,alot of people can't afford cars.

no money for the essentials, infrastructure, fire/police protection, a pending tax increase but can find 25 million for a "light rail" it's backward and asinine decisions made by baffoons like this is why the county is broke

A trolley is the last thing that Augusta needs! It would be much smarter to improve the bus system that we have now. For Augusta to be the 2nd largest city in Georgia, we have the poorest excuse for a bus system that I have ever seen. There is no need to pour money into the DDA, they are useless and only concerned about a select group of people in the city. Disband this group of stuck up cronies and mabe you will see some progress in the downtown area.

STIMULUS MONEY??????Would be nice if these millions could be taken off the national debt (not allowing Prezbho to use it anywhere else) so that our younger generation could survive without all the debt. Also, Augusta fought/complained about rail tracks downtown for years and now plan on putting them back.

Why on earth would you need to pay 37,000 dollars of tax money to figure out the feasibility of 2.5 miles of show, at 25 million?

You cound build a pretty nice public housing project on the land now occupied by the Patch. The residents would enjoy watching the airplanes take off and land. And they could walk across the street to watch the football games on Friday nights in the fall.

You people are getting the government that you deserve. When the federal government takes over health care, and there is no money left in the hands of producers to fund another " stimulus " things are going to really be interesting. Just think of what this 37,000 could have done had it been left in the hand of a producer. Maybe they would have bought something from a local merchant, building our economy. See you all in hell.

What is wrong with you people? Why can't ya'll see that all of this is connected? Build the TEE, Ballpark, and train. All of these things including the Hyatt if it gets built will be downtown. The train will help the flow of traffic. I remember some of you same people saying that you didn't want to walk to the new ballpark. Well now you can use the train. The way I see it, this is just the start.First, connect the medical district and downtown (area also includes Paine College and the thousands that will soon be employed at the Dental school. Second, extend it to ASU (this may encourage some of those students to move downtown). Third, extend it to the Riverwatch Mall (whenever it gets built). Also, It should have a stop on Washington Rd. I'm all for progress. And the light rail train is definitely progress.

Yet another waste of tax payers money. And they wonder why Augusta is broke. We really have some big spenders of tax money for no reason.

Why are you wasteing money on a trolley ? just use a bus system you already have...just use them...quit doing a study on everything and use what you have.. I have never seen a county or any part of government do so many studies on things and it cost MONEY....Get a life...Use what you have...

Linking the dowtown with the medical complex is a wonderful idea. This will permit sick people the ability to go downtown between surgeries of office visits with doctors. And of course all these sick people will be spending their money on things to boost our economy. I just wonder if they are going to park in the medical complex or downtown while the visit the doctors?

I am a stanch advocate for mass transit, but man, this looks like a total waste. It doesn't go anywhere that can't be walked. Basically, people are going to drive their cars downtown, park, and then ride the trolley a couple of times for the novelty of it. Maybe take it once or twice a year when relatives come into town and you want to show them the trolley. Now, if this light rail went from say 1st Baptist down Walton Way to downtown (with a stops for Augusta U.), it would make more sense to me.

I say use the money they were going to throw away on this trolly to clean up downtown. Make Reynolds and Broad more appealing to the eyes. That step would encourage people to walk/stroll downtown. People need the exercise as well, society has become way too unhealthy.

To give the city a little character, I say we buy rickshaws and put to work some idle people....plus the DDA since they have too much time on their hands.

Another scheme that will tkae money the city doesn't have. That's OK, as the DIMocRATS that control it will follow thier buddies in D.C. and borrow it, then raise your taxes (some more to pay for it.