The high prices of gasoline and its impact on food costs and the economic problems in the credit and housing sector have led to increasing ridership on the public and mass transportation systems. Many travelers are pondering what to do this vacation season and with a weary eye toward the pocketbook; yet, they still wish an entertainment value for their dollars. Added to this mix are cries to increase mass transit systems in areas that have not had them before as more efficient delivery of people to areas they wish to visit.
I agree with the sentiment that we need to get mass transportation covering the Metroplex going. It is totally wrong not to have a way to link Dallas-Fort Worth to all tourist attractions in between. This would prevent gridlock and expand an Entertainment Zone where tickets could be offered as vacation packages along with the transportation to get there and avoid traffic gridlock. Instead of being stuck in traffic, one could dine out a restaurant or stay longer. Grand Prairie and Arlington now have multiple theme entertainment areas such as Arlington's Cowboy Stadium, Six Flags (both rides and water park), and the Rangers. Grand Prairie offers Lone Star Park, the AirHogs, and Nokia Theater with Traders Village also in the mix. By combining Dallas and Fort Worth's attractions like Fair Park, the Cotton Bowl, the Museums, The Stockyards, The State Fair, the Arts Centers, Myerson and Bass Halls, and Skylink no one in this state and very few locations in the country could approach the value and diversity of The Metroplex.
In this era of costly gasoline prices, the old Greyhound slogan of relax and leave the driving to us could be retooled and bring in major tourist dollars to the entire region. If fact this could open new opportunities for major hotel complexes, employment, and construction. There are many proposals on how to achieve this and light rail and monorail maglev* technology needs to be added to this mix.
What we need is a Master Plan to serve the entire area of The Metroplex and incorporate all existing components within its scope and development.
We need nothing less on a national scale of the Manhattan Project to develop, implement, and create tax breaks to sustain a new green technology and bring it to all America. We should explore hydrogen, biodiesel cyanobacteria farming, solar, wind and geothermal energy as alternate sources to remove our dependence on carbon-based technology with its dwindling, increasing expensive costs, and environmentally negative impact.
And the most lasting result will be a real community that stretches from Garland to Texas Motor Speedway. Instead of separate geographic areas that shares a similar space.
Links and footnotes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev_train#Emsland.2C_Germany
NB. A maglev, or magnetically levitating train is a form of transportation that suspends, guides and propels vehicles (predominantly trains) using electromagnetic force. This method has the potential to be fast and quiet when compared to wheeled mass transit systems, potentially reaching velocities comparable to turboprop and jet aircraft (900 km/h, 600 mph). The highest recorded speed of a maglev train is 581 km/h (361 mph), achieved in Japan in 2003, 6 km/h higher than the conventional TGV speed record.
• Existing maglev systems
o 8.1 Emsland, Germany
o 8.2 JR-Maglev, Japan
o 8.3 Linimo (Tobu Kyuryo Line, Japan)
o 8.4 FTA's UMTD program
o 8.5 Southwest Jiaotong University, China
o 8.6 Shanghai Maglev Train
http://www.unimodal.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_car
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanobacteria
http://tomlovetexas.blogspot.com/2008/05/ut-scientists-discover-key-to-alternate_24.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_energy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_for_the_Study_of_Peak_Oil_and_Gas
http://www.fortworth.com/
http://www.thedallaspage.com/
http://www.tourtexas.com/grandprairie/
http://www.tourtexas.com/arlington/index.html
http://www.tourtexas.com/irving/index.html
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