tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post8753033674283230013..comments2024-03-28T05:47:35.460-04:00Comments on MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN: Shortsightedness and Ignorance Steal Allentown's Historymichael molovinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-77766575607671898592016-03-17T02:09:28.122-04:002016-03-17T02:09:28.122-04:00@1:38, they went through the same nonsense justif...@1:38, they went through the same nonsense justifying the delays when building the new 15th street bridge a few years ago. under that former bridge ran the barber quarry RR branch line. the railroad ties were treated with arsenic to preserve the wood. so, although there was some arsenic, it's just superficial contamination of the surface of the former rail bed. the pa. DEP plays ball with the city, justifying delays when convenient, and likewise, turning it's back on real issues, like the overflowing sewer pipes along the little lehigh. michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-26310764055770401762016-03-17T01:38:15.919-04:002016-03-17T01:38:15.919-04:00I was reading an article in the Morning Call relat...I was reading an article in the Morning Call relating to this. Someone in the comments section pointed out the New England Avenue project, which was abandoned because of high levels of arsenic in the soil. As I understand it, arsenic is a byproduct of burnt coal. If so, isn't there an arsenic issue with removing these lines or does arsenic discriminate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-11183413236951117412016-03-15T22:03:21.095-04:002016-03-15T22:03:21.095-04:00I can't wait for my apartment overlooking the ...I can't wait for my apartment overlooking the scenic light towers at Taxpayer Park in the fashionable east Allentown. I'll even be able to watch them tear down Martin Tower. George Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14913633538326352398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-76506313009555617352016-03-15T13:01:58.316-04:002016-03-15T13:01:58.316-04:00Think of the pathway as a barbarian shortcut.Think of the pathway as a barbarian shortcut.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-54654208936329704782016-03-15T11:31:06.139-04:002016-03-15T11:31:06.139-04:00We don't need railroads or trucks. Everything ...We don't need railroads or trucks. Everything will be delivered by solar powered drones to your urban loft drone port . You don't need a car,UBER/LYFT/bicycle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-28503213641631837092016-03-15T10:53:45.972-04:002016-03-15T10:53:45.972-04:00@10:03, the track was actually originally of the ...@10:03, the track was actually originally of the old main of LVRR. in it's later life it was the last spur line in allentown. the west end, had ran along sumner ave and hooked past the fairgrounds to 12th and liberty. the barber quarry ran along lawrence street, until it hooked north through union terrace. the track has been removed from all three routes. ironically, AEDC would like to <b>on speculation,</b> to put a track back to S. 10th, on the old quarry barber path, which would cost untold $millions. in past and future posts i will tell more about this front street line, which should have been retained. among many businesses, it serviced A&B, site of the current auto museum. nobody, save this blogger, has advocated for this town's historic attributes, WHICH NO LONGER EXIST. a plasticville for zombies.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-36451414553734932512016-03-15T10:03:51.513-04:002016-03-15T10:03:51.513-04:00I'm neither a bicycling proponent or a rail pr...I'm neither a bicycling proponent or a rail proponent, but I like to think I'm a realist.<br /><br />The tracks in question are not needed anymore since (as Mr. Molovinsky notes) the last business using them was induced to leave. Even when the business was still there, the tracks were seldom used.<br /><br />I also know that rail service to NYC will be a taxpayer-funded boondoggle that will benefit a select few, but cost all of us dearly.<br /><br />In the grand scheme of things, conversion to the trail is the lesser of two evils, and likely helps save us from the greater.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-81813652241533052992016-03-15T09:12:34.645-04:002016-03-15T09:12:34.645-04:00@9:07, it's worse than you know. the last b...@9:07, it's worse than you know. the last business in allentown that used RR freight service was there, until very recently. they were induced to leave.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-88478556898181985732016-03-15T09:07:03.395-04:002016-03-15T09:07:03.395-04:00One word that suits this "project" is hy...One word that suits this "project" is hypocrisy.<br /><br />On one hand, you have the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission telling anyone who will listen about how we need to get trucks off the roads and more rail freight.<br /><br />Then they turn around and help Jaindl write a grant to tear up the allegedly prized freight tracks that while not used today could be used in the future.<br /><br />The City spends a lot of money drawing up plans to bring back jobs and industry to the city. Yet, they too are complicit in tearing out all the rail freight routes too.<br /><br />If you really want to get down to it, there is no plan for anything in the city. It's just because the tracks got in the way of the Waterfront so they had to go and they fudged a project around it.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-14153208724988057802016-03-15T08:47:43.366-04:002016-03-15T08:47:43.366-04:00Speaking of shortsightedness, I've wondered wh...Speaking of shortsightedness, I've wondered what the city is going to do with all of the blighted and/or dated housing that surrounds the Waterfront project. It certainly doesn't contrast well. Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-52208612202864937792016-03-15T08:41:07.844-04:002016-03-15T08:41:07.844-04:00Bicycles and Light Rail are now a religion. Wait ...Bicycles and Light Rail are now a religion. Wait till your streets (maybe already) are all carved up with bike lanes - where one may see one or two bikes a day.doug_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17060547193889193657noreply@blogger.com