Comments on: Grey Sky Means Yellow Alert

By: Lemn

Lemn — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:04:58 +0000

I really like the idea of the canals being usable for transportation around the Boise area. I only have a bicycle, so I spend a lot of time trying to figure out good routes around town. The canals being open would solve many of my problems.

By: slim jim

slim jim — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:56:05 +0000

Dave, just how is a person to get to the gym or to the foothills with their bikes to exercise if they don’t use their cars?? Indeed, consider the better health the drivers are in because of the exercise they will be getting once they get to their destination.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 19:23:10 +0000

I lived in Boise for 23 years. Got sick of the dirty air and the politics, and moved to Portland.

Eat it!

By: Treva

Treva — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:10:06 +0000

Thanks, Curious George. Since I was an escrow officer in the 70’s and 80’s I probably closed a large number of properties in that area, but the old brain cells are getting tired so I am apt to forget stuff. I do remember the controversy about access to the greenbelt for us ordinary citizens.

Bown Crossing is kind of cute – I thought we had stumbled over some new town. Too bad developers haven’t provided this type of business development in Hidden Springs and Harris Ranch. A friend of mine who lives near Bown Crossing said that it took some time before the businesses started getting profitable, but it seems to be bustling now and I expect that at least some car trips are eliminated because of restaurants being in the area.

By: curious george

curious george — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:36:08 +0000

Treva, most of the credit for the design of Park Center Boulevard should go to the developer of the whole Park Center complex (River Run, Park Center Mall, The Island, etc.) – Pete O’Neil. O’Neil & his son Derrick also developed Bown Crossing.

A little known fact about Park Center Boulevard is its dual function as a floodway channel. The road was specifically designed to carry water away from buildings if/when the Boise River ever hits flood stage. If you want to see some really innovative ways that homes, roads, water, and public space can be thoughtfully integrated take a drive (or stroll) through River Run.

Pete is semi-retired now, but serves as the chairman of the Treasure Valley Air Quality Council. As a developer though, the Boise Guardian has been critical of Pete’s role in Boise’s development.

https://boiseguardian.com/2006/06/22/
as_simple_as_breathing.html

EDITOR NOTE–George, those critical remarks are well deserved for squeezing citizens off the greenbelt, for starters. Park Center Mall never flew as the retail venue it was supposed to be and it went bankrupt–leaving honest people financially screwed. Jakers moved out for a “profitable” location. I will stop now. Thanks for the info on the floodplain.

By: Treva

Treva — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 19:09:18 +0000

Having lived here for much of the last 50 years or so, I am happy to admit that I have never myself driven on the “freeway”. When my husband and I leave the State, we do use it to go to the coast.

Why anyone would want to drive around the valley on the overcrowded streets like Eagle Road or the freeway when there are lots of back roads to take, is beyond me. On regular streets you can’t drive fast but you don’t get bottlenecked in the event of a crash, you inhale less air pollution, and it is easier on your nervous system.

When my daughter visited here from Virginia last month she wouldn’t believe us that the freeway isn’t quicker than backroads until she tried it herself,and took the freeway to Eagle Road. Anyone of you who has exited onto Eagle Road knows what happens next.

Cruising around the valley yesterday, we found Park Center Blvd. probably the best example of good preplanning for future traffic, well landscaped too. Who should get the credit for that? Why is that kind of planning so rare?

By: BoiseCitizen

BoiseCitizen — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:21:58 +0000

So, yellow air alert. Hmmm, will they stop the fireworks show tonight? My guess? Uhh no. Happy birthday America!

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:30:22 +0000

Excellent post bikeboy. The problem with light rail is that it is, at best, a 20 year solution to today’s problem. In my opinion, the best “short term” solution is to expand the system brought up here a couple of months ago. Larger commuter buses running from the outlying cities to a central hub in Boise. Then a fleet of smaller surface buses running regular routes throughout the city. The goal has to be to get riders within two blocks of their destination. Numerous studies have shown if that can’t be accomplished, people won’t use it. This “surface subway” system could be expanded to accomodate the evening and weekend ridership. The last part of the solution is the most difficult to sell. Once this program is in effect, we have to make it cost prohibitive to drive downtown. Parking fees that start at 5-10 bucks just to get in the door will make the downtown merchants howl, but it will have to happen. As long as you can park downtown for two hours for 3 bucks, people simply will not take mass transit.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 20:55:35 +0000

Awwwww heck just be patient Micron will blow town leaving all there employee’s with out jobs. Elimination of all those job’s and POOF no traffic, no pollution, low cost housing. We can all go back to what we had before. A good clean life, no crime, low paying jobs (oh dang we still have the low paying job’s), stores that close on Sunday.
I must be dreaming?

By: Ken Malgren

Ken Malgren — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:22:59 +0000

I agree with what you propose. Unfortunately, Brent Coles was bought and paid for by developers, and it appears that Team Dave and the City Council also are bought and paid for by developers.

All, to the detriment of 98% of the Citizens of Boise.
Mass transit is an approach. The current bus system is definately broken because it doesn’t serve the people that it should. (I have to walk more than a mile to catch a bus!). Light rail could offer relief if it’s set up right.

Meanwhile, the rest of us die of lung cancer!