Trains Are Always Better than Buses, Right?

Josh Barro provide examples galore of why the answer to that question isn't always yes—where costly rail investment has been to the detriment of existing transit. His column targets proposed projects, such as New York's LaGuardia Airport AirTrain.

3 minute read

February 11, 2015, 9:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Jeffrey Beall / Wikimedia Commons

"Bus-based public transit in the United States suffers from an image problem," writes Barro. "That fact, laid out in a 2009 report from the Federal Transit Administration, isn’t surprising, but it has led to a perverse outcome."

Barro is hardly the first to question costly airport connectorsone of the best columns I've seen comes from Market Urbanism in 2010 by Stephen Smith, now editor of New York Yimby. Barro has a larger audience to spread the "rail isn't always better" message.

However, to effectively question rail as always being the best transit investment, it's necessary to point to worthy bus projects. "The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority has had modest success getting people to ride buses (the "Silver Line") from downtown to the airport; from most points in Boston, that trip also involves a train to the bus to the plane," writes Barro.

Benjamin de la Peña and Nicholas Turner, both formerly with The Rockefeller Foundation's urban development division, penned a July 2013 Planetizen Exclusive that describes other worthy bus projects throughout the United States.

Barro questions streetcar investments in recently opened systems and those still in the planning phase.

  • Atlanta’s downtown streetcar loop was a relative bargain at $100 million; unfortunately, Rebecca Burns, a writer at Atlanta magazine, took it to work for a week and found it was slower than walking
  • Washington’s shiny new streetcars, expected to serve 1,500 riders a day along H Street Northeast, are slowing the bus service that already serves 12,000 daily riders on that road. [No opening date scheduled as of Jan. 16].

Barro's main point is that transit agencies need to better market their express and rapid bus lines if they want to increase ridership with choice or discretionary transit riders (those who have access to cars). He points to recent success that Los Angeles Metro has had with the Orange (bus) line that operates on an exclusive right-of-way.

Returning to N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed LaGuardia AirTrain, Barro suggests that MTA "sell the Q70 and M60 services to people who normally wouldn’t be caught dead on a bus to the airport. Dedicated boarding areas and improved buses could be bought for a fraction of the price of a new train system."

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 in New York Times - The Upshot

Black and white Rideshare Pick-Up Zone sign

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing

From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

June 1, 2023 - Human Transit

Urban sidewalk shaded by large mature trees

Cool Walkability Planning

Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

June 1, 2023 - Todd Litman

Interstate 55 with cars and green freeway signs in Chicago, Illinois

Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation

Legislation to enable the addition of express toll lanes on Interstate 55 in the Southwest Side of Chicago, opposed by environmental justice advocates, cleared the Illinois General Assembly last month.

June 7, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

Graphic of Maggi Adamek superimposed over green field and image of hands holding tabletfor The Planning Commission Podcast

Do You Want Fries With That? Exploring the Intricacies of Food Systems Planning

Food systems expert Maggi Adamek talks with The Planning Commission Podcast about the complexities of food policy, from local zoning ordinances to international trade agreements.

12 minutes ago - The Planning Commission Podcast

Two blue and white tents on a paved bike trail under an overpass in San Diego, California with palm tree and vegetation on one side

How San Diego Camping Ban Could Impact Neighborhoods

An ordinance supported by the city’s mayor would bar people from sleeping on the street near shelters or services, but critics say it will simply push people to other neighborhoods and put them farther away from the supportive services they need.

June 8 - Voice of San Diego

Small white one-story building with Maggie Hathaway Golf Course sign with American flag on flagpole and green lawn

Expanding Access to Golf in South Los Angeles

L.A. County’s Maggie Hathaway Golf Course getting up to $15 Million from U.S. Open Community Legacy Project to expand access to the sport in South L.A.

June 8 - Los Angeles Times

Principal Planner – Advanced Plans

Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department

Planning Officer

City of Bangor

Planning Director

Park City Municipal Corporation

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.