The American West's Transportation Revolution

After decades of planning and development of its urban rail networks, will the American West change its image from car cornucopia to transit paradise?

2 minute read

July 29, 2012, 9:00 AM PDT

By Andrew Gorden


After many decades (and many billions of dollars spent), urban rail networks in American West Coast cities are finally coming-of-age. San Lubell and Ariel Rosenstock, of the Architect's Newspaper, report, "[n]ew lines, stations, infrastructure, and transit-oriented developments are popping up and in planning stages in and around Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. And if you count West Coast–adjacent cities such as Phoenix and Denver, there are even more."

Not only are cities seeing increases in the size of their transit infrastructure, existing transit lines are seeing increased ridership numbers. Lubell and Rosenstock find, "[a]ccording to the American Public Transportation Association, from 1995 through 2010, public transportation ridership increased by 31 percent...perhaps the most compelling reason for the expansion is the crippling impact of traffic in the region and in the country, and its accompanying demons-sprawl, pollution, and climate change."

But are West Coast cities the next transit utopias? Don't bet on it just yet. "Besides pockets of underuse, rail and light rail are still far from reaching the tipping point on the West Coast," say Lubell and Rosenstock, "In LA, for example, 80 percent of the city's residents still don't live within convenient distance to rail [and] slower returns from Measure R's tax-related funding have forced the completion of LA's Purple Line subway extension beyond 2030."

Still, as it transforms municipal land use patterns, rail's return to the West is worth paying attention to. Read the details of each city's progress in the Architect's Newspaper article.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 in The Architect's Newspaper

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Chicago with river in foreground.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan

The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.

May 8, 2025 - CBS News Chicago

Close-up on e-scooters parked in painted designated parking area on city street.

E-Scooter Parking: A Guide

How smart planning — and ample designated parking — can end conflicts over shared scooters.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Bozeman, Montana with mountains in background.

‘It’s Been 50 years’: Public Transit Law Passes in Montana

Legislation would fix transportation district issue, allow for greater reach on city bus routes.

7 hours ago - Daily Montanan

Illustration of nighttime city with white lines connecting nodes to illustrate technology and connectivity

Top 10 Tech-Ready Cities

An index ranks U.S. cities based on their preparedness for the ‘smart city future.’

May 14 - Smart Cities Dive