And so it goes
Tommy Brown, Huntsville's director of Parking and Public Transit, doesn't see it that way. He said the TIGER grant money - Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery - is for capital projects under way or at least close to putting shovels in the ground.
The proposal for a light-rail line to take commuters from a secure Cummings Research Park/Bridge Street Town Centre station to their jobs on Redstone Arsenal - the first leg of a rail system that could over years grow to serve the metropolitan area - isn't anywhere near to beginning construction. Gooch had hoped to secure the TIGER money to pay for feasibility studies necessary before beginning the design and construction phases.
Brown said Federal Transit Administration staff made clear that the TIGER money is designed to create jobs by getting construction projects going faster than planned.
He also said light rail isn't right for Huntsville at this point because there isn't the necessary population density to support it and the lines are expensive - $20 million or more a mile isn't uncommon, he said.
"This is certainly not closing the door on light rail or any other transportation options for Huntsville" or the area in the future, Brown said. "With BRAC coming, maybe five or 10 years down the road, we might feel differently."
He said Friday that, as the city moves forward with new major road projects, it wants to make sure there's enough right of way to support a future light rail or other transit options.
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