San Jose Case Study Part Two: Light Rail

Part two of this two-part series examines the likely failure of San Jose's light-rail system.

1 minute read

December 16, 2002, 5:00 AM PST

"Like San Diego, Portland, and St. Louis, San Jose jumped on the light-rail bandwagon in the early 1980s... Light rail is an obsolete technology that doesn't really work anywhere. But it is especially unsuitable in post-automobile urban areas such as San Jose, whose jobs are spread throughout the area rather than concentrated in a downtown. San Jose made a major mistake in committing itself to such an inappropriate form of transit. It is compounding that mistake by continuing to build light rail even as congestion increases and funds run short to operate its transit services."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: San Jose Case Study Part Two: Light Rail

Friday, December 13, 2002 in The Thoreau Institute

Land Use California

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

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