Report suggests Fort Wayne examine transportation alternatives

BY DERRICK GINGERY, Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly
derrickg@fwbusiness.com

    Building a street-car system in Fort Wayne likely is a long-term goal, but other money- and energy-saving ideas like car-sharing could be implemented relatively quickly, according to a report by two Chicago-based consultants.

    Scott Bernstein and Stephen Perkins, of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, told a gathering of Fort Wayne business and civic leaders Aug. 20 that the city should explore bringing street cars back to Fort Wayne as a way to potentially cut automobile use.

    That and other suggestions to save families money are included in the "Reconnecting Fort Wayne: Building a Sustainable Future on an Innovative Past" report Bernstein and Perkins presented to the city.

    Bernstein also suggested starting a car-sharing service, in which residents who walk, bike or use mass transit to get to work can rent a car for doctor's appointments or other needs.

    "This isn't a transportation strategy, this is a wealth-creation strategy," he said.

    Mayor Graham Richard and other city officials have not planned yet which initiatives in the report they want to promote.

    Ideas like the street-car system likely would take several years to implement. Richard said the car-sharing program could be implemented in as few as six months. There already are companies operating nationwide that could start the service in Fort Wayne.

    "I'm particularly intrigued by the car-sharing concept," Richard said. "If you can help a family reduce their transportation cost, it really gives that family more ability to buy a house."

    Cars in the sharing program are parked in local neighborhoods and members sign up for usage times. They flash a membership card to unlock the vehicle, and then drive the cars as needed.

    Bernstein said for every car in the Chicago car-sharing fleet, 17 have been taken off the road. He also suggested heavier promotion of bus ridership, including selling bus passes to college students.

    Bernstein said some Chicago universities have purchased bus passes for all of their students, which has increased bus use and lowered car use.

    Energy-efficiency programs also could lead to savings, like allowing real-time pricing of electricity. Through an Internet portal, residents would purchase electricity at rates based on the wholesale cost charged to an electric company. That figure changes from hour to hour based on demand.

    According to the consultants, if residents know when rates are more expensive, they will be encouraged to cut usage during those times to save money.

    "Increased efficiency leads to wealth creation," Bernstein said.

    Mike Thornson, a highway engineer for Allen County who attended the presentation, liked the idea of presenting options for families to save money.

    "It's front-line environmental applications that would bring Fort Wayne up into the 21st century," he said.