Editor's Note: Special thanks to the Village of Oswego for the information.
Metra, the commuter rail agency, is again seeking public input for its new strategic plan.
"This is the perfect opportunity to encourage Metra to expand its services to Oswego and turn the Park-N-Ride at the corner of Mill and Orchard into a station," wrote Village president Brian LeClercq in a letter. "Not only would this be of great convenience to the commuters who currently use the Park-N-Ride, but this would bring economic stimulus to the area, developing new business and with it, new employment opportunities."
LeClercq said the Park-N-Ride in Oswego has benefitted countless Oswego residents as well commuters from Yorkville, Plano and beyond. Now he said Oswego has the opportunity to request that Metra expand its services to be able to continue to serve its customers in the area. But to do so, said LeClercq, we Metra needs your help.
Metra is continuing its efforts to develop a new strategic plan, a critically important document that will guide their agency for years to come. During their first round of public outreach in July, Metra received a significant amount of feedback from their key stakeholders – their board, employees, riders, and the public. More than 200 people attended their public open house meetings and more than 3,300 people submitted feedback online.
Metra is seeking additional input for their Strategic Plan and has released a second survey, feedback will be accepted through November 12, 2012. To leave feedback, please visit the survey. Question #10 allows respondents to provide comments and feedback about Metra services and projects. "If you seek a Metra extension to Oswego, I would encourage you to state your support of this initiative as a response to this question," wrote LeClercq.
"I hope that you will consider taking this opportunity to let your voice be heard," said LeClercq. "A Metra station in Oswego would be truly extraordinary for our community."
George, there is no option other than driving in Oswego and Kendall county, so once again you fail with your comparison because you can't compare something to an alternative that doesm't even exist. George: "Oswego grew very well WITHOUT COSTLY Commuter Passenger Rail Service and will continue to grow when the economy picks up again." Yes Oswego grew without train service, but if you think Oswego grew without adding significant expenses you are fooling yourself. How much did property taxes increase during Oswego's growth. The sales tax increased to support construction of road projects in Oswego and Kendall county. You act like a 1% increase will cause you financial harship. $1.00 increase on a $100.00 purchase. This fee would be paid by anyone who shops in Kendall County. Before you told me to drive 15 minutes to Aurora to catch the train. Well, how about you drive 15 minutes further west so you don't have to pay the additional 1% sales tax. How do you like that George? I doubt you'd be willing to drive 15 minutes west for shopping to pay less in taxes. So now public transportation is a TOY. That is what you are saying George. No wonder why you hate it so much. Public transit is not some limo service. In fact I took public transporation during high school and college, saving myself and my parents money.
You act as if it is only the Village of Oswego that is in favor of the Metra Extension. The Mayors of Yorkville, Montgomery and Aurora would like to have the extension built. Local politicians like Hultgren and Biggert are also in favor. These people know that public transportation would be a benefit to this region. That is why they are pushing for it.
And will Oswego residents need to have their cars tested for emissions because we would be part of the RTA? I just want straight forward plans and answers.
Vehicle emisison testing is state requirement is has nothing to do with the RTA. http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/vim/owners.html
I really hope our Kendall County leaders would adopt an immigration policy for incoming Chicagolanders like the stringent ones in China on family size. One child per family with maybe 2+ dogs for added companionship and emergency nutrition if needed. We are also accepting of a certain amount of non crouchy seniors / empty nesters for our new senior housing projects and to trim down the load of all the foreclosed homes that have caused our home values to sink to historic lows. In addition we are very very accepting of people moving here to open up new businesses to grow our industrial and commercial tax base to lessen the toll on Kendall County residential property taxpayers. People bringing new jobs to Kendall County could probably get local politicians to reward them with some hefty TIF and other financial incentives. Heck, I will even throw in a case of our local wine to anybody bringing in 10+ jobs.
Do they support your personal browsing while on the corporate dime? I think they need to install some Internet web filters on your computer to limit your excessive Internet use of sites like this and XXX pornographic sites and postings while on the company dime during working hours. So ... tell us where you work.
Either way from a company computer or a personal laptop or personal smartphone ... you are not being a productive employee and you should be reported and booted out of your job in Chicago and then you can find a job in Oswego maybe at the Chic Fillo joint. That should end your whining and carping about a costly Oswego Metra choo choo you seem to be so enthralled with in a toothfairy like fantsy.
Still waiting for proof of your so called cost/benefit study. Still waiting for an answer to whether or not you would drive 15 minutes to avoid paying the additional one percent sales tax?
YOU want to turn it into a persoanlized mudslinging contest because you cannot make any sound arguments other than your childlike whining about how good a choo choo is for all of us. So, we are still waiting for you to man up and: 1. Provide us your real name like a man would 2. Tell us where your work in Chicago 3. Explain any arrests or charges you possibly could have had in the last 3 years. We are still waiting ... who is Logan?
For someone who claims to have done a cost/benefit study, has he figured out what it has cost Kane and Kendall counties to widen Orchard road, widen Route 34, build a bridge over the Fox River on Orchard. How many millions of dollars have these projects cost taxpayers. They also have failed to realize that gas doubled in the past 10 years. They complain about the cost of gas now, do they honestly think gas is going to go down and stay down. The harp about the price of public transportation but yet have no problem paying $4.00 a gallon to drive on congested roads. George used to be in favor of the project until some cost figure was thrown out there. Then all of a sudden he was against it. Instead of working with Metra to keep the costs down and fight them on all the amenities they want, it is just easier to put up opposition to the plan.
You can't even back up your so called claims. Instead you rather focus on where I work and my screen name. As for the FOIA request, I have written Metra and tried to get information. The response I got, is that until their consultant study is completed, they wont have information to provide. How come you seem to have more answers than Metra? Metra couldnt even give me a breakdown of the the $125 million or the reason why the cost more than doubled over the last years since the extension was 1st proposed. Folly like dream...in your eyes it is because it has no benefit to you. That is why it is dream. Again how much was spent on widening orchard from 88 to Route 34? How much was spent on widening Route 34 from Route 30 to Route 71? How much was spent on building the bridge over the Fox River. You have no problem spending money on that kind of road project do you. I guess you have no problem for the state to borrow money for countless road projects. Who do you think pays for those projects. Isn't the objective to get cars off the roads instead of just building and widening more roads? Here is an idea, lets meet in downtown Aurora. I'd like to see how you'd get there.
I proposed meeting at the Tap House in Oswego You said: "Here is an idea, lets meet in downtown Aurora. I'd like to see how you'd get there." I don't see why you can't do it in Oswego. Are you afraid of some people here? But I will be gracious and meet you in Aurora. Just publicly post here the name of the Aurora Bar, the date, and the time you want to meet to discuss the Pros and Cons of Metra in Oswego. BTW, I don't want to walk in that bar blind. At least give me your real name now and your height to look for in the bar. I certainly don't want to refer to you as Logansdad when in the bar. If you don't provide me your real name, I'll just call you Choo Choo.
More lies George. It wasn't you who proposed that. It was Oswego Mom. Someone else who refuses to give her real name, but yet it is me who you keep insisting provides their real name. How do we even know you are really George Jones? "I don't see why you can't do it in Oswego. Are you afraid of some people here? " Why can't you just discuss it in this forum. What are you afraid if? Based on what you have posted here, you don't want to discuss it. Instead you rather hide behind your made up study based on the bus route. You failed to answer any of my questions. You have no real data to support any of your claims. Somehow you believe you have more answers than Metra - the ones who are actually paying consultants. You only want my name so you can try to dig up dirt on me. If you want I can give you a name, but you will not even know if it is real. If you really want to discuss the pros and cons, then start here if you think you are man enough to do so. I doubt that you are. I doubt you can start to refute any of the claims I made here today.
You want others to drive 15 minutes out of their way for things, but you can't even answer a simple question - would you be willing to drive 15 minutes to pay less in taxes since you obviously don't support public transportation nor are you willing to pay the potential sales tax increase. Public transportation has the abiility to bring jobs and more people to this area. Did you factor that into your cost/benefit analysis? Probably not since you are anti-growth and particular about the kind of people you want to move to this area.
Let's keep the conversation clean and on track, everyone. Thanks!
You are hysterical, it will be another 6 or 7 years before the sales tax increase for Metra service is ever placed on a ballot, but yet somehow you think today's results on an issue unrelated to it will dictate the results of the Metra question. You are really desperate arent you.
LOL
Back to having a train that services Oswego. Yes. It would get SIGNIFICANT use. Far more than the lame bus does now. And had it been a referendum on the ballot, I would have voted YES -- but, alas, it was not.
Also since you are so concerned about saving the taxpayers money, have you turned your cost/benefit report over to Metra. I am sure they would be very interested in your results. We all know you spent a lot of money preparing that report it would be wasteful for Metra to spend more money on consultants when they can just use the report you put together. Lastly, how does one go about getting a copy of that report. Do I need to file a FIOA request with you to obtain a copy or will be posting it here on the Patch?