Comments on: Is one city a Region? http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/ Greeley local politics and government Sun, 20 May 2012 09:20:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Bob http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4267 Bob Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:54:27 +0000 http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4267 jobu - I would love to have any information you have that's not already publicly posted elsewhere and can be uploaded to my site. I'll send you an email. jobu - I would love to have any information you have that’s not already publicly posted elsewhere and can be uploaded to my site.

I’ll send you an email.

]]> By: jobu http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4256 jobu Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:04:24 +0000 http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4256 Bob - I have a slew of sources, from the MFA and amendments, some analysis about project cost in the MFA and in the RTA plan, a myriad of email from various members of the RTA citizens' board, and such. I will be happy to blast them to you. Suffice it to say that I am confident that this idea was a money grab by Centerra (you have to be suspicious of a development that managed their tax authority by declaring a bunch of farmland to be urban blight). You can get a better picture by reading some of the stuff I posted at http://widestreets.net, and you can email me at jobu (at) widestreets (dot) net. Bob - I have a slew of sources, from the MFA and amendments, some analysis about project cost in the MFA and in the RTA plan, a myriad of email from various members of the RTA citizens’ board, and such. I will be happy to blast them to you. Suffice it to say that I am confident that this idea was a money grab by Centerra (you have to be suspicious of a development that managed their tax authority by declaring a bunch of farmland to be urban blight). You can get a better picture by reading some of the stuff I posted at http://widestreets.net, and you can email me at jobu (at) widestreets (dot) net.

]]> By: Bob http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4254 Bob Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:58:28 +0000 http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4254 Great comment. If what you say is true, and it wouldn't surprise me at all, this is a very valid reason for Greeley to not to be involved in the RTA. If you have references, please post them. Of course, will non participation in the RTA force Centerra to live up to their commitments? I'm guessing this is not the case and that the I25-34 interchange will just become more of a festering wound in the area's infrastructure. That aside, I do think a regional transportation plan is at least 10 years overdue. Greeley and Fort Collins city councils' lack of participation feels like selfishness. Until the cities can work together I don't see much future for the progress. I am very afraid that there will never be a proposal that is 'ready'. Great comment. If what you say is true, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all, this is a very valid reason for Greeley to not to be involved in the RTA. If you have references, please post them.

Of course, will non participation in the RTA force Centerra to live up to their commitments? I’m guessing this is not the case and that the I25-34 interchange will just become more of a festering wound in the area’s infrastructure.

That aside, I do think a regional transportation plan is at least 10 years overdue. Greeley and Fort Collins city councils’ lack of participation feels like selfishness. Until the cities can work together I don’t see much future for the progress. I am very afraid that there will never be a proposal that is ‘ready’.

]]> By: jobu http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4253 jobu Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:34:40 +0000 http://greeleyelections.com/is-one-city-a-region/134/#comment-4253 I think you missed a significant problem with the RTA. The issues surrounding the expenses at 25-34, are not really a stumbling block to Greeley's involvement. This biggest problem is that McWhinney committed to paying significant amounts to improve roadways and intersections at 25-34, then allowed Rich Shannon to drive the NCLA and MPO to establish the RTA plan. Once it looked like the RTA had sufficient momentum, Loveland and Centerra amended their Master Finance Agreement to include a loophole which will allow Centerra to get off the hook (by some estimates to the tune of $200 million) for their commitments. Whether the RTA is a quality idea is beside the point of the problem. We, as Greeley residents, HAVE to start thinking regionally, but Pam is exactly right, this proposal is not ready, and it unfairly benefits a single developer who has gamed the system the for the life of the Centerra developmen. I think you missed a significant problem with the RTA. The issues surrounding the expenses at 25-34, are not really a stumbling block to Greeley’s involvement. This biggest problem is that McWhinney committed to paying significant amounts to improve roadways and intersections at 25-34, then allowed Rich Shannon to drive the NCLA and MPO to establish the RTA plan. Once it looked like the RTA had sufficient momentum, Loveland and Centerra amended their Master Finance Agreement to include a loophole which will allow Centerra to get off the hook (by some estimates to the tune of $200 million) for their commitments.

Whether the RTA is a quality idea is beside the point of the problem. We, as Greeley residents, HAVE to start thinking regionally, but Pam is exactly right, this proposal is not ready, and it unfairly benefits a single developer who has gamed the system the for the life of the Centerra developmen.

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