RTD scheduling system putting patients at risk

It seems that the RTD Access-a-Ride scheduling system is causing problems for people with medical needs who are missing their doctors’ appointments.

FasTracks can’t budge Union Pacific, turns to citizens

The Denver Post today reports that FasTracks, the organization planning RTD expansion in the Denver area, has abandoned negotiations Union Pacific to obtain a right of way. Though the Union Pacific land is better suited for rail expansion, FasTracks is unwilling to pay the price. The problem? Union Pacific’s price is too high. The solution? Take the land from citizens because it’s so much less expensive. And why is it less expensive? Because FasTracks can use the power of the easement to reduce the price by 50%.

The upshot: FasTracks doesn’t have the resources or the authority to obtain Union Pacific’s land, so they are turning to private citizens where they can get 50 cents on the dollar under the cover of eminent domain. It’s a travesty of justice when property rights on lands near the RTD expansion zone are being abused. (link to this audio for more from iVoices)Bulldozed:’Kelo,’ Eminent Domain and the American Lust for Land