Hop on the Bus Gus
Denver, Salt Lake City Among “Best U.S. Transit Systems You Never Knew Existed”
Riders are responding to fluctuating gas prices and paychecks by using public transit more often.
By Courtney Lowery, 6-15-09
Grist.org this week takes a look at 10 public transit projects that, despite not being the big systems, in Chicago, San Francisco, etc., are beacons for how to get people from A to B in urban centers. Two Western cities are at the top of that list.
From Grist:
As cities big and small rethink how their residents get around, new systems are taking shape—and as gas prices and paychecks fluctuate, riders are responding in droves. While the current economic crunch is forcing many cities to hike fares and cut back on service, innovations continue, and the tracks are laid for a bright future.
Coming in at No. 3 is Denver, where Grist says FasTracks and the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority plan makes: “Denver’s mile-high sprawl is a lot easier to navigate thanks to one of the leading transit systems in the West.”
No. 4 on the list is Salt Lake City and light rail, TRAX, and its bus system. The city also gets props for plans to “build seventy miles of rail in seven years; officials are also studying the possibility of adding a downtown streetcar and a bicycle transit center.”
[End of article]Just a few facts about transit systems. 1. Public Transit does not relieve congestion. 2. Public Transit does not reduce air pollution. 3. On a passenger-mile basis, Transit is not cost effective. 4. It would be cheaper to lease of buy a new car for every rider than to build a new light rail system. 5. Increasing transit funding does not increase ridership. 6. Transit subsidies should be directed to users, not providers. 7. On average, commuting by rail is slower than commuting by car or bus. 8. Most Light Rail riders are former bus riders. 9. On average, most of the seats on a bus or train are empty. 10. Rail transit is only cost effective in a few large urban centers while most new jobs are being created in the suburbs nation wide. 11. Only in New York does Public Transit carry as many passengers as even one lane of freeway can carry and at a much greater cost to the taxpayer. `12. The Public Transit rider pays less than 25% of the cost of his or her ride. The taxpayer picks up about 75% of the cost. (national average)
Comment By Ken in Denver, 6-15-09Speaking of FasTracks, now that raw material prices are back down because of a sagging economy, is it getting any cheaper?
Comment By Brad, 6-15-09You nailed it Mickey. The only time I've ever seen full trains belonging to the Denver RTD, is before/after Bronco games.
Comment By Tammi Diaz, 6-15-09Utah Transit Authority has Good Bus Service Down Town Salt Lake City, Avenues and the University of Utah. UTA has Destroyed the Bus System in the rest of Salt Lake County.
Taking a Good Bus System out of Suburbs increases Poverty and Crime.
Thank You! Utah Transit Authority is Number One in Corporate Welfare and Corporate Greed in Action.
Thank You! Utah Transit Authority is Number One for Government Waste in Public Transit.
Sorry Mickey,
Public transit does relieve transit for all those who use it. They can relax on the trains instead of dealing with traffic and idiot drivers.
On your number 4 point, you use the typical road warrior stupidity. Yes you could lease someone a vehicle for the capital cost. But then you put those people on the highways which would require roads to be expanded and congestion points to be eliminated.
While light rail may be slower than driving, if you add congestion it often is not a big difference. In addition buses get stuck in traffic and express buses are less cost effective than light rail.
Most light rail riders are not former bus riders. The numbers are less than 50% depending on the system. More people will ride an nice light rail system than will get on a bus. In fact in Salt Lake the two light rail lines are carrying 50% the number of riders as the entire 6 county bus system.
Most of the time I ride light rail in Salt Lake or Denver the trains have lots of riders.
In Salt Lake City the cost per passenger is only $1.75 per light rail rider but twice that on the bus. So yes rail is cost effective.
Tell us about Utah's great frontrunner mass transit commuter train. The times I've rode between Ogden and Salt Lake City. It really enjoyed its spacious and loads of room. That's because there was no one on it.
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