Raise the Hammer
The Global Transpark Project in Kinston, North Carolina suffered from bureaucratic delays and lack of connecting surface transportation.
By Letter to the Editor
Oct. 7, 2005
I read, with great interest, your article on Hamilton's proposed "Aerotropolis", and the comparison to Kinston, NC's Global Transpark. I'm a Kinston, NC resident, and supporter of the GTP.
For the most part, your characterisation of the Global Transpark Project is accurate. However, there are a few key points your article may have missed.
All the fundamentals were in place: just-in-time manufacturing, speed and accessibility, critical infrastructure, and the support of all three levels of government.
All the fundamentals were not in place. We suffered significant delays in the early days due to an environmental impact study of epic proportions. I think it was good to do a thorough job, but critics of the GTP ignore the years-long delay when making claims that the transpark has failed to deliver jobs on schedule.
Further, your article notes that critical infrastructure and accessibility were in place. That's not, strictly speaking, true. The powers responsible for linking the airport in Kinston to interstate highways via four lane roadways have failed us miserably.
We've got a fantastic airport facility, but getting trucks in and out until recently has been limited by our older road system. Only in the last couple years has there been a four lane road into the immediate airport area, and it doesn't directly connect with an interstate.
There are plans and construction going on now, which is great. However, as much as anything, I think the lack of modern highway access to the GTP has been a significant deterrant to recruiting large manufacturing and air courier projects. And on top of that, there is no rail terminal at the Transpark.
But these are things that can be fixed, and will be sooner or later. The real question is whether the GTP will continue to receive the support from the extended GTP community that it needs to succeed. With fuel prices rising, as you point out, it will be a new challenge. But that challenge underlines the importance of projects like the GTP and Aerotropolis that look at making and moving goods in a new light.
Good luck, and thanks for an interesting article.
Joel Smith
Kinston, NC
There's nothing historic about bricks." -- Warren Green, Hi-Rise Group, on preserving the Lister Block
NewsfeedsISSN: 1715-1554
Letter to Council: City Hall Deserves Better (Oct. 6, 2008) - Dear Mayor and Members of Council,
I've been following the ongoing discussions regarding the renovations of Hamilton City Hall.
As a resident and taxpayer in Hamilton, I certainly apprec
Authoritarianism Meets Stylishness (Oct. 6, 2008) - A couple of interesting articles in this weekend's Toronto Star. First off there's Thomas Walkhom's analysis of free market economics versus 'authoritarian capitalism'. Citing
Mayor: 'Stars Aligning' for Light Rail, Gore Plaza Moving Forward (Oct. 3, 2008) - I spoke this morning with Mayor Fred Eisenberger about light rail, economic development and the Gore Master Plan Study. He was understandably excited about the gathering momentum on light rail in
Sooner or Loiter (Oct. 3, 2008) -
An article in today's Spectator about the city's plan to revitalize Gore Park confused me:
Vendors. Entertainment. A peace memorial. Less loitering. A friendlier climate.
V
Breaking: City Publishes Rapid Transit Feasibility Study Phase 2 (Oct. 2, 2008) - The City's Public Works Department has just published its report Rapid Transit Feasibility Study - Phase 2 (PDF link) in anticipation of the Public Works Committee meeting on October 6, 2008 (
VP Debate: There for the Crash (Sep. 30, 2008) -
Tim Harper's article in the Star made me chuckle over my cornflakes this morning. Looking ahead to Thursday's U.S. Vice Presidential debate, Harper noted:
If Thursday's debate i