Light Rail/Communter Rail to the Base and DC?

[Aimhigh2000]

Airport

Yes, those places tried to make airports and were unsuccessful, but, I think with proper planning it could be done. Hangar space would not be an issue. There is so much space out there that Hangars could be built. I am not saying it has to be a huge massive international airport either. Make it a regional airport, relocate St. Mary's. True that alot of the buildings are older than dirt, but what was old could always be converted, or torn down. I was not meaning to sound like Pax could become the next BWI, merely a tool that could be used to bring in business should the base ever close. Also, if the E6A can fit into hangars, I am sure a 737 wouldn't be a problem. I think a 737 would be the largest I would want coming in, although the C-5 still makes runs down here now and then. I think if we had to, we could draw companies in, and with some development inside the current base's perimeter, it would at least help.

 

[pvineswinger]

Yes, those places tried to make airports and were unsuccessful, but, I think with proper planning it could be done. Hangar space would not be an issue. There is so much space out there that Hangars could be built. I am not saying it has to be a huge massive international airport either. Make it a regional airport, relocate St. Mary's. True that alot of the buildings are older than dirt, but what was old could always be converted, or torn down. I was not meaning to sound like Pax could become the next BWI, merely a tool that could be used to bring in business should the base ever close. Also, if the E6A can fit into hangars, I am sure a 737 wouldn't be a problem. I think a 737 would be the largest I would want coming in, although the C-5 still makes runs down here now and then. I think if we had to, we could draw companies in, and with some development inside the current base's perimeter, it would at least help.

You also have to consider the people that live here- many of the houses below the airspace were not structured to sustain the "force" of jumbo jets taking off and landing right over our heads. :shrug:

 

[Aimhigh2000]

Considered

Most flights would probably follow the current paths, coming in over the Bay, however, I am not suggesting that there would be loads of huge commercial liners coming in. As a regional airport, I would think more along the lines of the Dassault Falcon, Lear, and other types of Business jets. The largest allowable could/would be the 737 or Airbus equal. As far as noise, my mom has lived near gate three forever, and commercial/business jets pail compared to the JSF . But even I would be against huge commercial traffic, unless that is what the people wanted. I would stick to simply business and regional type aircraft. It would also be a good place to open a Cessna Training Center. Just food for thought.

 

[pvineswinger]

...It would also be a good place to open a Cessna Training Center. Just food for thought.

http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/airport/facilities-services.asp

Notice where it says "Flight Instruction & Certification"
Why would we need another one?

 

[Ken King]

Most flights would probably follow the current paths, coming in over the Bay, however, I am not suggesting that there would be loads of huge commercial liners coming in. As a regional airport, I would think more along the lines of the Dassault Falcon, Lear, and other types of Business jets. The largest allowable could/would be the 737 or Airbus equal. As far as noise, my mom has lived near gate three forever, and commercial/business jets pail compared to the JSF . But even I would be against huge commercial traffic, unless that is what the people wanted. I would stick to simply business and regional type aircraft. It would also be a good place to open a Cessna Training Center. Just food for thought.

Only three of the six runways (yeah only three pieces of concrete but bi-directional) have over water approaches and only one can be done without low level flying over inhabited areas. Not to mention that with the weather that we have around here there would have to be a fully manned approach control (like the military provides now) along with tower ops. Another high cost endeavor.

 

[Cletus_Vandam]

I agree with you on this issue Bogart. They build all of these subdivisions without planning them out. They build them in the middle of nowhere, and then they have to spend more tax dollars on providing services such as water and sewage lines farther from the developed areas. The commissioners support all of this urban sprawl.

You will need to do some more research on this type of comment. Not all subdivisions require sewer and water connections.

Also, the BOCC need to look at increasing the impact fee assocaited with geting a buidling permit for construction of a new house. St. Mary's County is far less than Chanrles and Calvert Counties in this regard.

The County does not fund the water or sewer line extensions in subdivisions (or any other private construction for that matter). This is left to the developer to incorporate into their costs for the development's infrastructure much the same way the roads, sidewalks etc. are paid for. In essence, part of the cost of the house you are buying is payking for the public sewer extension, water extension, etc.

 

[Aimhigh2000]

Pilot Training

Yes, I know they have training their, but in the spirit of capitalism, why not some competition? And I think everyone is getting kind of the wrong impression about all this. It is not like there would be planes stacked up waiting to land or big huge jets flying above. A few more than what is here now. And why not a fully manned tower? That would be jobs. There is already a tower in place. And as far as approaches go, it would be no different than the jets that come in now, or the planes that fly directly over the Sleep Inn. Yes, if the base ever did close, and something needed done, I am sure that a lot of the building contractors, painters, laborers, architects, designers and planners would not object to trying to salvage what we would be left with.

 

[Cletus_Vandam]

Peninsula

St. Mary's and Calvert counties are peninsiulas. They will never draw the type of population, density and growth as Manasas or Fairfax. These locations have access from all sides and are (more correctly ststed to be "were") convenient to get in and out of. That is why they have seen the growth.

The base is the life blood for St. Mary's and the southern end of Calvert. If the base were to close, tons of people, along with their tax revenues would leave the County.

The State is not going to pay the cost of this rail system. I and everyone else living in St. Mary's County is paying the highest County income tax every year. I don't want my taxes going up any higher for a rail system that will not benefit me or my spouse. We both live and work in the County and plan to keep it that way. If I worked in DC, I'd be living in Accokeek, Brandywine, or Bryans Road.... Simple as that.

I believe that if you are driving 60 to 80 miles one way for work, your doing so by choice. There are jobs here in the County, on base, etc. Look hard enough and you'll likelk find one that pays a decent salary too. Sure you'll make more in DC, but your going to pay for that in the commute, the choice is your to make... I shouldn't bear the cost of paying for a rail when it isn't warranted.

 

[Ken King]

From some quick reading it seems light rail costs between 25 and 40 million per mile. So to tie into the closest current rail of any sort (Waldorf) from the base without building a bridge across the Patuxent it would be about 40 miles and would cost anywhere between a billion and two billion for rail only. Now put in a handful of stations and the costs of securing property and building them and I am sure you've just added another billion or two (and I think I am low-balling this all the way) if not more.

This doesn't even address the operating expenses that one would hope that fares could fully compensate for, but we know that doesn't always cut it. On top of it all this is just the St. Mary's portion of the expense. Where the heck do you think that kind of money would come from for a population base of less then 100,000 people? That would be an obligation of $40,000 per person or more beyond all the other taxes already being taken from our wallets.

 

[Ken King]

Yes, I know they have training their, but in the spirit of capitalism, why not some competition? And I think everyone is getting kind of the wrong impression about all this. It is not like there would be planes stacked up waiting to land or big huge jets flying above. A few more than what is here now. And why not a fully manned tower? That would be jobs. There is already a tower in place. And as far as approaches go, it would be no different than the jets that come in now, or the planes that fly directly over the Sleep Inn. Yes, if the base ever did close, and something needed done, I am sure that a lot of the building contractors, painters, laborers, architects, designers and planners would not object to trying to salvage what we would be left with.

Of course you would need a fully staffed tower, but what about approach controllers? The guys that vector you into the landing pattern and handle all the IFR activity before handing the aircraft off to center. Pax does it for St. Mary's, Cambridge, Salisbury, and other smaller fields already. And if you think that the sequencing requirements and handling characteristics of small fighter type aircraft aren't much different then those for heavy multi-engine jet freight hauler types you are sadly mistaken.

 

[UrbanPancake]

You will need to do some more research on this type of comment. Not all subdivisions require sewer and water connections.

Also, the BOCC need to look at increasing the impact fee assocaited with geting a buidling permit for construction of a new house. St. Mary's County is far less than Chanrles and Calvert Counties in this regard.

The County does not fund the water or sewer line extensions in subdivisions (or any other private construction for that matter). This is left to the developer to incorporate into their costs for the development's infrastructure much the same way the roads, sidewalks etc. are paid for. In essence, part of the cost of the house you are buying is payking for the public sewer extension, water extension, etc.

That is true, but the development of huge subdivisions away from employment and shopping centers encourages more congestion in rural areas. Which in turn means we have to spend more tax dollars on road expansion and up keep. Who do you think pays for the up keep of these extensions? The tax payers. You must live in one of these far fetched subdivisions that pop up in the middle of corn fields.

 

[UrbanPancake]

St. Mary's and Calvert counties are peninsiulas. They will never draw the type of population, density and growth as Manasas or Fairfax. These locations have access from all sides and are (more correctly ststed to be "were") convenient to get in and out of. That is why they have seen the growth.

The base is the life blood for St. Mary's and the southern end of Calvert. If the base were to close, tons of people, along with their tax revenues would leave the County.

The State is not going to pay the cost of this rail system. I and everyone else living in St. Mary's County is paying the highest County income tax every year. I don't want my taxes going up any higher for a rail system that will not benefit me or my spouse. We both live and work in the County and plan to keep it that way. If I worked in DC, I'd be living in Accokeek, Brandywine, or Bryans Road.... Simple as that.

I believe that if you are driving 60 to 80 miles one way for work, your doing so by choice. There are jobs here in the County, on base, etc. Look hard enough and you'll likelk find one that pays a decent salary too. Sure you'll make more in DC, but your going to pay for that in the commute, the choice is your to make... I shouldn't bear the cost of paying for a rail when it isn't warranted.

Are you stupid? I live in Mechanicsville and the miles to work is only 37 miles, and it still takes about an hour and a half to get to work. 37 miles isn't very far from the District. Why do you think so many people work there, and live down here where it's cheaper?

 

[Cletus_Vandam]

Are you stupid? I live in Mechanicsville and the miles to work is only 37 miles, and it still takes about an hour and a half to get to work. 37 miles isn't very far from the District. Why do you think so many people work there, and live down here where it's cheaper?

The number of miles to/from the district has nothing to do with the geographical layout of the County. It is and always will be a one way in and one way out deal.

As far as the 37 miles that you drive to work versus the 4 miles/ten minutes that I drive to get to the office; those are CHOICES which you and I have made regarding the type of job/career you wish to have. Sure, I could make about 25% more money driving into the district, but I CHOOSE not to do so becuase of the headaches that go with the drive. I'm guessing that you could make the same choice.

Rather than b!thcin' about the drive and expecting the State to dole out some 2-billion for a rail system you have choices.... Try moving, picking a new place to work, car-pooling, or catch the bus------better yet, just stop complaining.

 

[Aimhigh2000]

Monorail

Seattle is currently building phase one of their monorail system. 14 miles long, cost of construction $1.75 billion. Other phases will follow in time. As far as the commute. Yes, it is a choice to drive to DC everyday, but I have looked at county jobs, I will keep my 55k + a year and commute. I could not take a 40,000 pay cut just to work in the county. I also have no desire to work on base. The commute actually does not bother me, I mean, sure it is a pain, oh well.

 

[Cletus_Vandam]

Seattle is currently building phase one of their monorail system. 14 miles long, cost of construction $1.75 billion. Other phases will follow in time. As far as the commute. Yes, it is a choice to drive to DC everyday, but I have looked at county jobs, I will keep my 55k + a year and commute. I could not take a 40,000 pay cut just to work in the county. I also have no desire to work on base. The commute actually does not bother me, I mean, sure it is a pain, oh well.

Man, what kind of job pays $55k in the city and only $15K here in the County?

What;s the beef with working on base? I don't but I also don't see the problem with it if I did?

Not busting your chops, just asking....