Rail Transit Is A Lost Cause

Across the nation, rail transit systems are are losing riders money. So why do city governments keep building them?

1 minute read

March 14, 2003, 7:00 AM PST

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech

" Rail transit systems all over the country are losing riders and hemorrhaging money, yet city governments keep building them...Why has rail transit been such a spectacular bust?...rail transit will never be a serious transportation alternative in more than a handful of places: It can't match the convenience of cars... in most situations the average auto travel time is less than half that of rail transit...There is no documented case of mass transit making a material traffic reduction anywhere in the United States...The mass transit fleet consumes more energy than the entire auto fleet, including SUVs."

Thanks to Dan Penrose

FULL STORY: The Search for the Holy Rail

Thursday, March 13, 2003 in The Weekly Standard

Transportation United States

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

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.