Good to hear from you. I suspect we agree on a lot more than we disagree. I chose to live where I do primarily because of schools and access to outdoor activities. Post kids we will definitely live in an urban walkable area. My wife and I both are fortunate enough to work out of the house so we spend very little time in a car which was a factor in our decision (we have a mini van and Prius, which we primarily drive). We are actually quite close to numerous grocery stores and often bike to Trader Joes, the gym, the coffee shop, restaurants, etc. The area near the Tram, I think, is an example of pretty decent suburban development in ABQ; quality schools, lots of natural attractive landscaping, lots of bike paths (all along Tramway and down Paseo, and of course the wonderful foothills, we are a mountain biking family) and close access to all services. I bristle when I drive down Montgomery, Paseo, Candeleria, Comanche, and of course the eyesore that is the I-25. I very much enjoy driving Central east of Washington and on Rio Grande. These are examples of human centered development, in my mind. I am not anti car. Just anti automobile ghetto, which ABQ has far too much of. Projects such as Rail Runner and the streetcar counter this 1950s mentality of development. I think we will both be amazed at the type of development that sprouts near Rail Runner stops, especially in Santa Fe.

We will just have to agree to disagree on the streetcar as I see it as a key part of an efficient, forward-thinking transportation system. The plans I have seen serve the most heavily traveled and populated areas of the city which are only going to become more populated and dense. A streetcar type system is best equipped to adapt to such growth. Plus it gets harder and harder to add such systems as density increases. And as growth occurs the system will expand accordingly. It is not a question of if, it is a question of when. Why not have a system five years too soon (at today's prices) than 10 years too late? We seem to always be chasing growth. I think Portland is the only city I know of that has figured this out.

Glad that you would support a system if the federal government funded it. It's time to flip the formula from 90% federally funded roads to 90% federally funded mass transit projects. Imagine the regional planning decisions ABQ would make if that was the case? I bet we would have a city we both enjoyed even more.

Looks like you have been reading some good books. I would encourage you to pick up Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt. And if you do, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. The times are changing, finally. But probably not fast enough for me.

Last thoughts, do you know or can you ask the mayor what the city gets in exchange for allowing billboards to blight our landscape? Does the city get any funding or does it simply go the mega outdoor advertising firms?

If you have an interest, here's my blog where I advocate for things I would like to see ABQ have.

shotsie,

Could you be more misguided in your understanding of irony? You were trying to make the point that I probably live in Nob Hill or the corridor to be served by the Streetcar. I was making the point that I am advocating for something that does not directly benefit me. As far as walking the walk, I work out of the house, bike most places, and drive only a few times a week. You know nothing about how I live yet you are very comfortable making broad judgments. I think you need to check your negativity not just in your misguided judgments but comments such as this: "I am NOT going to park my vehicle at Walmart on San Mateo, or try to navigate the bus system just to take this streetcar to, ah, Old Town... or sell my nice house to live in some overpriced condo downtown." Sorry you seem so miserable.

Hi shotsie, come check out Urban Beautification to see if you are on board.
thx, M

I think the unwed mothers idea was great. Could also use women mentors and help the women start a business where they could work part-time and receive communal baby daycare.

I had an idea about that recently for cloth-diaper delivery but the price of gas is getting crazy.