Almost all urban development since the end of World War II has been designed on the assumption that most trips will be made on foot or by car or a combination of the two. We have built a vast network of highways that attract commercial development (jobs) near intersections. We have also built low-density housing, similarly designed around cars. In many cities there is insufficient capacity on the major roads to handle the demand.
Rail systems and busways are two similar options to address the problem. Rail stations tend to concentrate development as do highway intersections. In other words, over time, development patterns will change to take advantage of the concentrations of people.

Construction of a new rail line should provide a high level-of-service to its users, but it will likely have no measurable impact on nearby congested highways.

The amount of money that has been invested in roads over the last however many years is irrelevant. We have a highway system that must me operated and maintained. The issue is whether new funds are better directed towards increasing highway capacity or improving transit. In any event, the available funding will provide very little of either under current conditions.

• posted by Roger Sharp
• September 12, 2007 @ 10:10 am
• Permalink

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