Downtown will really thrive when people who live in W 7th, Near Southside, Uptown, Northside and the new Trinity River development can hop a circulator trolley that runs on a frequent schedule (including late hours) in and out of downtown. Don't be afraid to let people out of downtown. The train that lets people out also brings people in.

I know its expensive - frighteningly expensive, but consider it a bold investment for growth because that's what it is. Without good transportation, downtown is just another shopping mall, but with bad parking.

1. Recude parking needs. Downtown parking is currently subsidized to give people an incentive to go downtown.

2. Greater incentive to go downtown. People love to go downtown, but we have restaurants and things to do in our neighborhoods too. The biggest barrier to going downtown is parking. I know I would go downtown a lot more if I could hop a train. When I go now, its usually by bike, but sometimes the weather is not favorable.

3. Make Fort Worth more of a destination. Downtown is great, but downtown + W 7th + Near South + all the other nearby neighborhoods is an even better experience for our visitors. As fun as downtown is, visitors will come back if there's more to explore and when exploring is easy.

4. Rail brings development. You can run Molly trolleys and they are nice, but they don't leave downtown and routes are subject to change. When you lay track you give future business a guarantee that people will be coming by this spot for a long time. It works elsewhere - it will work here too.

Critics often point out that rail "doesn't pay for itself", but that analysis is limited to ticket sales vs operating cost and doesn't consider the fact that the city gains more revenue from the improvements and developments that follow as a result.