Wow. Ridiculousness Reaches New High

You have to read it to believe someone actually said it: A Vote Against Rail is a Vote for Freedom and Prosperity.

Bob Jones almost had it right. Allow me to edit. A vote against rail is vote for the freedom, mobility, economic prosperity and a cleaner environment that busses and automobiles bring. A vote for the rail system brings urban jungles, more taxes, more government control, and more pollution.

A Logic Disconnect

We discussed the moves by the Dallas Ft. Worth region to move forward with a regional transit network but some skeptics still don't understand how things work as it pertains to automobiles. In a Fort Worth Star Telegram article, the following is mentioned.

Others argued that technological improvements to cars might improve the region’s air pollution, making commuter rail unnecessary. "It’s likely that by 2011 we’re going to see a lot of electric automobiles on the road," said Dave McElwee, president of the Tarrant Alliance for Responsible Government. "Ridership will go down."

I'm constantly amazed by the technophiles that are hoping some magic electric car will rise making transit useless. The problem with this is even if you built a car like that, the roads still need to be expanded to accommodate them. Also, with the increases in VMT expected from hybrid cars making people more mobile, energy consumption still continues to rise. So while there might be electric cars at some point, mobility still creates issues. The human condition causes a problem in that for work people need to be close to each other but the dispersed living arrangement causes a need for greater infrastructure to accommodate mobility.

I also don't see what people have wrong with transit. The narrative in this country has been driving for so long by suburbanites, it discounts the feelings of urban dwellers. In places with well run transit, movement is so easy, and city life is their choice. When I was in Budapest and Vienna, I couldn't imagine having a car in that city. The Metro came every 3 minutes and urban form made all trips convenient by walking. Even here in San Francisco, I can get where I need to go easily by walking or using transit. It's silly to think about getting in my car, yet there are still car driven policies, pushed by those might as well be living in the suburbs.

Olympics Update! Shalane Flanagan!!!

A bronze for the distance crew already! Shalane Flanagan gets an American Record in the 10K and a bronze medal. This is huuugee!!!! Even bigger when you consider she had food poisoning only a few nights before.

Name This Place

I'm a sucker for urban form. This place could use some transit...

Rail Ridership in LA Up Again

I'm always curious when people such as the BRU pit themselves against better mid and long range transit. What seems missed in the arguments over bus and rail is the network is the reasons for each mode. Just like the circulatory system in your body, you wouldn't ask capillaries to do the long distance blood moving that your veins do.

But another interesting development is the recent skyrocket in rail ridership and slightly lower bus ridership increases in Los Angeles. The Gold Line in particular is moving up, taking a 39% increase over the same time last year, with all rail up 20%. But the Orange Line and the LA Bus system were up 8% and 6% respectively. Not that 75,000 new riders is anything to to sneeze at on the bus tip, but with only 4 lines, rail ridership increased 53,236 total riders. That is a lot of capacity on four corridors that just got soaked up. Imagine if there were more rail corridors and more possible network connections.

Space Race Update: Houston & Dallas

Yesterday there was a commentary by DART president Gary Thomas on the anniversary of the agency. Not satisfied with the huge expansion plan they have going on right now, the region is looking for more.

Although DART's own plans call for more than 40 miles of new rail lines along with more bus and HOV service by 2030, it's not enough. Our region, already the nation's fastest growing, will double in population by then. We are already hard at work exploring new ways to design, build and finance rail services. And more cities, bolstered by DART's success and challenged by their congestion needs, are working with us to find solutions.

That solution is a 9 billion dollar regional commuter rail plan. Now all they have to do is figure out how to pay for it.

On the South side of the state, Houston is looking at Commuter rail expansion as well, planning a massive commuter network. This one estimated to cost about $3 billion. This is on top of an expansive light rail program where they are expanding on the most successful new light rail line in the country. Five new lines, all in the heart of the city.

It's interesting to note the difference between the two core systems. Houston is geared towards circulation within the first ring road of Houston while Dallas' light rail base works like a feeder system. It shows the multi-faceted approach that cities can take with the technology. If the two were to learn from each other, Houston would see that they need perhaps a bit more mid-range transit moving people faster between districts, while Dallas could use a bit more circulation like they get to a small degree with the McKinney Avenue Trolley. It also proves the need for multiple transit modes to work together in a network. With the addition of these commuter rail networks, these cities are on the right track to a more sustainable region.

Edmonton High Level Streetcar

Interesting how things turn out. This is quite a restoration. The high-level part is very cool. Now though, they have a light rail system.

McCain Cat Sez...

I can haz more trains for other countries? He lauds the GE locomotives that are built in the United States, but gosh, let's not build more tracks for them to run here.

A Tale of Two Cities

While still criticized, DART is well respected in Dallas. They've had their slip ups and money issues but its a much different story than say Capital Metro which gets beaten up at every opportunity.

The agency has bumped along at times, and it occasionally looked as if the wheels could come off. Overall, though, DART's foresight yielded achievements other regions envy.

Chief among them is an expanding rail transit network that now stretches over 45 miles in four directions, through Dallas and into three suburbs. The mileage will double in the next five years, reaching Fair Park next year and Carrollton, Farmers Branch and the Pleasant Grove area by the end of 2010. Service to Irving, Rowlett and D/FW Airport will follow.

It's one of the nation's most ambitious transit expansions, one that will pay social and economic dividends for decades.

Getting Slim? Eat More Food

Martin hits the nail on the head. Why are we begging for more highway money when the funding source is going down because people are driving less. Perhaps it's because there is an extreme want by the motoring and sprawling industries to keep pushing. Maybe this is what is needed to starve the sprawling beast.