A recent forum about the Streetcar Proposal at the Columbus Metropolitan Club and a follow up article from The Dispatch have brought an interesting issue to light. The issue is — should a board member of the Central Ohio Transit Authority and suburban real estate developer be making public statements like this…
“We already have a fabulous rapid-transit system…it’s called the freeway!”
Not exactly visionary leadership, eh? There’s a pretty good uproar going on over at Columbus Underground, where a campaign has begun seeking the resignation of Mr. Weiler.
So what do you think? Should a transit official be making disparaging remarks about mass transit? Should a suburban real estate developer be in a position to make judgments about the future of urban transit in Columbus?
I know what camp I’m sitting in.
Wow, that’s just amazing that a transit official would say something like that. It’s really sad to see all the negative news about the streetcars lately. I feel like if the line would just get built, it’s benefits would be so readily visible.
If you watch the video, he also accused Ken Danter of “making up statistics” and essentially being an unethical hired liar.
As a person, Bob Weiler is a nice guy and a success as a businessperson. I’ve met him and carried on brief but friendly conversations with him in the past.
That said, his business success is based on the growth of the highway system and the car culture (something he freely admits and self-applauds)… and the suburban sprawl it created.
If he had never been appointed as a member of the COTA Board of Trustees, he’d just be another person speaking his mind on the issue of downtown streetcars. But he cannot separate himself from the fact he IS a COTA board member. And for him to stand in a number of public forums and make statements such as those he did at the CMC forum and before the recent 21st Century Transportation Task Force meeting in Columbus is a clear conflict. He should either step down from the COTA Board or be removed.
He has helped create the very sprawl that besets us all today and is compounded by the high cost of operating a motor vehicle. If he cannot work toward a solution, he (as a COTA board member) should not be speaking out against something that is at least a beginning of a solution…the downtown streetcar.
Wow! Thanks for a link to the video of the CMC luncheon. And you’re right, someone who is not pro-public transit should not be on the COTA Board of Trustees.
With what exactly is he entrusted to as it relates to public transportation? From his comments, I’d have to say ‘not much’.
You shouldn’t really be surprised. The board chair for SORTA was like this as well (Stephan Louis). There are people everywhere, even on transit boards that don’t believe in transit. Apparently another one just showed his true colors. Hopefully that was his last mistake.
It reflects the attitudes toward transit by the people who make the appointments…mayors, county commissioners, etc. It says as much about them as the people they appoint.
Cincinnati’s former mayor Luken put his rail-hating Olds driving father on the SORTA board, and we’ve been living with the consequences ever since. Luken pere (himself a former councilman and congressman) is the political godfather of current councilman John Cranley, the politician who has done the most to derail the Cincinnati streetcar project. He’s probably kicking himself now that gas is >$4, but he’s stuck.
+1 to what Noozer said. I’m sure Bob is a nice guy, and he’s entitled to his opinions as an individual and as a businessman, but it sounds like his interests are conflicted with the board he is supposed to serve.
Whether or not he should resign is up to the board. But it should be seriously looked into. COTA needs strong leadership.
For someone on the board of trustees of COTA to conflate rapid transit with streetcars while at the same time insinuating that everyone should be forced to buy a car if they want to travel around the city is inconceivable.
What do you expect from a region whose economic development plan includes a race track in the world of $4/gallon gas?
I dream of the day when each of us can have our own streetcar that can take us wherever we want to go. Even between cities if we want!
I was astounded when I read Bob’s comments but then I realized that he only is said what most people in Columbus and Central Ohio act out. And he said it at the Columbus Metropolitan Club. I wonder where all the attendees at the luncheon parked their cars? Did they get downtown via 670, 71 or 70?
My question is how do can you make the shift from Bob’s comments to appreciating and supporting mass transportation?
One way is just start where you are. Ride the buses first. Portland, Oregon didn’t start with street cars, believe me! I grew up in the Willamette Valley.
Replacing people on boards is relatively easy. A cultural mind shift is much more of a challenge. I am ready to work on this challenge!!
See you on the bus!!
Andrew, the racetrack is a private development proposal. not a part of any regional plan.
Ruben, I agree that a cultural mind shift is what is needed, which is why we need visionary leaders on our transit board. Our leaders are not supposed to just go along with the status quo. If they did, they would be called “followers”.
Boards are status quo. Part of the shift, I believe is to create movement, dialogue beyond those systems that are designed to maintain the status quo — at the same time acknowledging those systems. Somewhat paradoxical I suppose.
I am not too keen about “visionary leadersip”. Usually this means “my vision” at least in the status quo context. I’m more interested in collective wisdom or collective leadership. This takes more listening then speaking and often more following than leading.
I just got inspired to call Bob and hear him out in his full context, then be open to surprise and movement
Gracias Walker!
[…] post popped up on XING Columbus soon after that sparked some additional discussion, and a post on The Alive’s City Limits […]
Update: There’s a letter to the editor in today’s Dispatch. You can read it online here.
Someone named Bob Weiler is at it again, this time deriding the 3C Corridor. We don’t know if it is the same Bob Weiler on the COTA Board of Trustees or not, but talk about not understanding the importance of multi-modal travel:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/03/29/Weiler_ART_03-29-09_G4_ARDC5J7.html?sid=101
[…] Also, I didn’t include the opening paragraph, but it’s priceless: There are few people more qualified to diagnose the problems of the Brice Road corridor in east Columbus than Robert Weiler. […]
Give COTA feedback on Bob Weiler: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/robert-weiler-still-on-the-cota-board