Improving your "community"?

I don't understand the complaints over the "non-international" airport. It is almost impossible to get a non-stop flight out of the country even out of the international airports in the area, Indy and Cincy. We go to Mexico, Bahamas, ect. at least once a year and can never find a non stop flight from any of the area airports. I always assumed it was due to demand; not enough people around here all wanting to go to (X) at the same time. Maybe Steve can shed some more light on the subject.

It's not so much that it's a non-international as it's non-national. It's a pain to even get direct regional flights.

[Robin Garr]

It's not so much that it's a non-international as it's non-national. It's a pain to even get direct regional flights.

Check the fares from hubs and compare them to fares from non-hubs like SDF. That extra segment from here to Cincinnati or Memphis or Atlanta may be saving you enough money to be worth the extra hassle. It's sort of like wanting a pro team so we can spend $60 for tickets instead of enjoying the Bats at Slugger Field for $6 a game.

[Robin Garr]

I don't understand the complaints over the "non-international" airport. It is almost impossible to get a non-stop flight out of the country even out of the international airports in the area, Indy and Cincy. We go to Mexico, Bahamas, ect. at least once a year and can never find a non stop flight from any of the area airports. I always assumed it was due to demand; not enough people around here all wanting to go to (X) at the same time. Maybe Steve can shed some more light on the subject.

Unless there's been a change in the last year or two, which with the Delta-Northwest merger is certainly possible, but we normally book non-stop flights to Europe (France or Italy) from Cincinnati on Delta/Air France.

It's not so much that it's a non-international as it's non-national. It's a pain to even get direct regional flights.

Check the fares from hubs and compare them to fares from non-hubs like SDF. That extra segment from here to Cincinnati or Memphis or Atlanta may be saving you enough money to be worth the extra hassle. It's sort of like wanting a pro team so we can spend $60 for tickets instead of enjoying the Bats at Slugger Field for $6 a game.

Cincy, Memphis and Atlanta are all cities I never want to be in, even if it's just the airport. Just like there are times I'd rather see the actual MN Twins play instead of their minor league team coming to town for one series a year.

I don't understand the complaints over the "non-international" airport. It is almost impossible to get a non-stop flight out of the country even out of the international airports in the area, Indy and Cincy. We go to Mexico, Bahamas, ect. at least once a year and can never find a non stop flight from any of the area airports. I always assumed it was due to demand; not enough people around here all wanting to go to (X) at the same time. Maybe Steve can shed some more light on the subject.

Unless there's been a change in the last year or two, which with the Delta-Northwest merger is certainly possible, but we normally book non-stop flights to Europe (France or Italy) from Cincinnati on Delta/Air France.

I've never looked to France/Italy, but Ireland goes through Chicago and Mexico goes through Houston.

We are looking at an Italy trip, what city is non stop from Cincy?

[Robin Garr]

We are looking at an Italy trip, what city is non stop from Cincy?

Oops, I think I told you a lie, Justin, sorry. Cincinnati has direct DL/AF flights to Paris Charles deGaulle, which is a major Euro-hub with nonstops to just about every European city from there. Italy (Rome, Milano) flew nonstop from Atlanta, I believe.

Again, your mileage probably varies, but I'm very happy to fly to and from Italy through Paris or other major hub. Just walk through the passport gates at CDG, then fly "domestic" within Europe to smaller airports like Friuli-Venezia Giulia Regional or Venice Marco Polo and you have almost zero lines and hassles at customs. It's also really nice picking up a rental car and driving out of an airport even smaller than ours. Coming home it's the same deal, begin travel at a smaller regional airport with fewer hassles, and you're already in the system by the time you get to Paris for the change of aircraft.

I don't see how light rail would be very effective here. Theres too much sprawl and you can't walk ANYWHERE outside of downtown or the highlands. Unless you drive your car to some sort hub that takes you downtown and then back to the hub where you get in your car again. But at that point, why not just drive all the way.

Also i don't know how underpaid our teachers are. Most high school teachers here are making 50-75 grand. How much should a teacher make??

Personally I would reform higher education. Make it accessible to everyone without going into debt the rest of your life. After completing undergradute and graduate degrees (and now 65k in debt) I've come to the conclusion that most of college is a racket. They could give you just as effective an education in half the time if they wanted to. Would love to see major change in this area.

Question:

IF Louisville were to get worldwide airline routes, then how would it effect prices of flights? Not only the international flights , but would it spill over into an increase for Domestic routes?

Answer to the OP Question:

I'd love to see a major change in the educational structures of Louisville and surrounding areas before thinking about a bridge or railway.

[Robin Garr]

... you can't walk ANYWHERE outside of downtown or the highlands..

And Crescent Hill, Clifton, Germantown and Schnitzelburg and Old Louisville and possibly the older part of St. Matthews. But I'm being picky. Metro-wide, I agree with you. Light rail won't win in Louisville unless it can drop everyone within a short walk from their door. The only transit service that even approximates that is TARC3 for disabled people, but it has massive issues of its own.

Light Rail sounds good but it usually becomes a huge tax burden. It almost seems to me that a city needs to be designed around a system not vice--versa. I saw a recent article listing St Louis for example, only 2% of the population use their light rail system. I am in Santa Fe until mid march and New Mexico is talking about shutting down their light rail system as it has lost almost 20 million dollars in the last couple of years. I like the idea but dont think its feasible. How about a regional high speed rail system. Perhaps connecting Louisville to Indy, Chicago, maybe south to Nashville and out to St Louis.

I'd like to see a good bakery within walking distance of every neighborhood. A light rail would be great if enough people used it. However, it won't be easy after this many years of everyone thinking that they have to buy a car (or even worse...a truck or SUV) & move to the suburbs. I'd even settle for being able to hop on a train down to Nashville or up to Cincinatti, Chicago & Indianapolis, like we used to have.

However, it won't be easy after this many years of everyone thinking that they have to buy a car (or even worse...a truck or SUV) & move to the suburbs.

.

Some of actually like living in the suburbs, I know I do. Apparently at least one local employer feels the same way. My wifes company (and 30 employees) is moving from "downtown" to Oldham County in April. She is giddy at the prospect of not having to go downtown everyday.

... you can't walk ANYWHERE outside of downtown or the highlands..

And Crescent Hill, Clifton, Germantown and Schnitzelburg and Old Louisville and possibly the older part of St. Matthews. But I'm being picky. Metro-wide, I agree with you. Light rail won't win in Louisville unless it can drop everyone within a short walk from their door. The only transit service that even approximates that is TARC3 for disabled people, but it has massive issues of its own.

And Middletown. Im walking to HR2 for dinner tonight, in fact.

Any transit system that wont get you from Bardstown Rd to drunken stagger distance from my front door at 4 AM is wothless (not that I close anything down anymore, but I still remember those days). Thats why it works in places like NYC.

Ive seen a number of studies that suggest that a much larger number of people favor light rail than will actually use it. They want others to use it to clear up the roads for themselves.

What people really, really want is a low traffic commute.