Support the Metro!!!

[spacecreature]

A lot of you are making fun of the metro idea, while it would be a great project for Lebanon!

In fact just like they stole all FPM's ideas, it seems they have managed to do the same with this one also. Maybe you are unaware of this, but it was originally GMA's idea. In a TV talk show a few years back (forgot which channel), when asked about what projects could be done in Lebanon to improve public transport he mentioned this and added it would also create a lot of job opportunities for lebanese technicians, engineers etc... as well as join all the Lebanese cities and make them closer to one another.
Just bcoz he didn't keep talking about this, and the others took the idea , you don't have to start attacking it without further thought. This reminds me of of how whatever GA says, the others just attack him without even listening to what he is really saying...

Plus no one likes those who stand in the way of progress and development, it makes them look bad. How do you think Hariri built his image? He was marketed as the man who rebuilt Lebanon! I remember really liking him back then , b4 all his followers took over.

All we have to make sure is that the bidding is managed correctly, and the project is not given to another fake company to the benefit of the hariris by wasta.

So what do you say???

[Libnene Qu7]

An underground metro in Beirut would be perfect because the ground is mostly rock, and the tunnels would therefore be self-supporting.

The metro will obviously reduce the traffic on the roads, but it will also give us a chance to completely rebuild the pathetic state of our roads without hindering peoples' movements.

[Frisbeetarian]

Do you guys even fathom how much money a metro network needs? To erect and maintain?

[spacecreature]

Originally Posted by Frisbeetarian

Do you guys even fathom how much money a metro network needs? To erect and maintain?

We don't have to pay anything, a company will build it and run it for a certain amount of years then will hand it back after that period...or would keep it and pay taxes or something.. Bi sir fi mouna2assa and the best bidder gets to do it.

Or better yet it can be owned by the lebanese public, just like OTV. People can contribute in it and they will get shares...I don't know, I am not an expert but I am sure there are ways where we don't have to pay...

OR we can ask Leila solh hmede to finance it :o)

[Booyakasha]

A metro, subway, tube, or whatever you want to call it, is not possible in Lebanon not only for technical reasons but also for archeological reasons. Although I'd love to see one in Beirut, building one would cost a lot of money and it will have to stop every 2 meters because of some archeological findings.

What should be done however is a tramway. It is highly efficient, plus it's better for security reasons. Paris just expanded its tramway lines by 4 new ones and believe me when I say it's way better than the metro since it's as punctual and holds an added value from the fact that you get to see the city.

Buses however would cause problems cuz we don't have dedicated lanes for buses in Lebanon to avoid traffic jams.

But coming to think about it. All we need is efficient Bus network combined with 4 tramway lines in Beirut and one train covering the coast from the North to the South. All of those would cost less than a subway network and all its hassles and would make commuting easier..

Cheers!

[thesoul]

I heard about a "political reason". Seems our clean politicians refuse such metro (all parties) because they are afraid their mass graveyards will be discovred. Remember that fuss when they dug 1 meter under autostrade Halat ?

Anyway, I'm convinced of the technical and archeological reasons advanced. Why not a tramway ? There used to be one in Beirut, and it seems it was pretty efficient. This way we will make life harder for car drivers and encourage people to use public transport in Beirut therefore benefitting a decrease in pollution.

One problem remains : Achrafieh : I think we will need a teleferique there. (joke)

What about a coastal train ? I think it will affect even more the traffic from the north and south of Beirut.

[Salome]

Originally Posted by thesoul

What about a coastal train ? I think it will affect even more the traffic from the north and south of Beirut.

I find this idea the most reasonable. A kind of local fast train line going along the coast. It would make the life of the locals as well as the tourists much easier.

Am not a technician but I guess building such a rail route would cause less chaos and would cost less than an underground metro.

Yeah, but who would build it? The state? The saudis maybe??

[thesoul]

Originally Posted by Salome

I find this idea the most reasonable. A kind of local fast train line going along the coast. It would make the life of the locals as well as the tourists much easier.

Am not a technician but I guess building such a rail route would cause less chaos and would cost less than an underground metro.

Yeah, but who would build it? The state? The saudis maybe??

We have a problem though Salome : In order to build a coastal line, the state must get back all those coastal properties illegally taken by private people to build things such as resorts etc... and those people have many connections "in high places". In fact, they ARE the high places (MPs, ministers etc...) freshly reelected...

[Salome]

Originally Posted by thesoul

We have a problem though Salome : In order to build a coastal line, the state must get back all those coastal properties illegally taken by private people to build things such as resorts etc... and those people have many connections "in high places". In fact, they ARE the high places (MPs, ministers etc...) freshly reelected...

Then it would be the worlds most expensive railway as the private contractor would need to pay pretty much as compensation. But who would invest in this way, when its profit will cover this fee just after forever?

[thesoul]

If we had a good legal system, and a good political will, those people illegally occupying those coastal areas would have to go to jail and pay for all the unlawful benefit they realized by occupying the land for a long long time. If this is done, we would build railways ALL OVER LEBANON. But, the unlawful landlords won the elections ... So to all those who voted for them : Have fun waiting on autostrade Dbayeh (or others)