Tag / transit

by Adron

The Rides I’m Looking Forward To… Top 10

There are numerous transit systems that are building out, even in spite of this recession/depression era we exist in. Overall, things are looking bad for transport, transport freedom, and many of these things. But also the winds of change, the attitudes of people, and the human characteristics that we have are starting to come forth and change this outlook!

These rides I’m looking forward to are on some of the systems that will slowly begin to change things for the better. That will help us move forward toward complete streets and better livability! If you know of others I’ve missed, please let me know!  🙂

NOTE: These aren’t particularly in any order of priority, just on the list. The biggest element of these is that they are being built, are already funded, and clearly have a completion in sight or are already done!

  1. Portland Streetcar – East Side Loop.
  2. Portland Milwaukee Light Rail & Transit Only Bridge Crossing.
  3. Seattle Sound Transit Link Light Rail University Extension.
  4. Seattle First Hill Streetcar (and finally being able to enter that city in a classy way via the renovated King Street Station + Streetcar to the coolest place in the city (Cap Hill, etc)).
  5. New Orleans Streetcar Extension from Union Station to Canal Street Streetcar.
  6. San Diego Streetcar/Light Rail.
  7. High Speed Rail in Europe or England – to anywhere, I don’t mind which one. 🙂
  8. Little Rock Arkansas Streetcar – I have a fascination with this streetcar, since it is in such a red state with an oddly small city/downtown.
  9. Paris Light Rail & Subway – Nuff’ Said.
  10. TBD – I know there is something out there that I need to put higher on my priority list, but am keeping it open for now. Any suggestions?
by Adron

Out of Pocket Savings w/ Transit vs. Auto Usage

 City  Monthly  Annual
 1  New York  $1,120  $14,643
 2  Boston  $1,131  $13,575
 3  San Francisco  $1,088  $13,060
 4  Seattle  $995  $11,939
 5  Philadelphia  $977  $11,729
 6  Chicago  $976  $11,716
 7  Honolulu  $945  $11,377
 8  Los Angeles  $891  $10,692
 9  Minneapolis $ 884  $10,610
 10  San Diego  $863  $10,360
 11  Washington, DC  $863  $10,350
 12  Portland  $859  $10,312
 13  Denver  $857  $10,279
 14  Baltimore  $843  $10,113
 15  Cleveland  $823  $9,877
 16  Miami  $803  $9,634
 17  Atlanta  $789  $9,469
 18  Dallas  $785  $9,425
 19  Pittsburgh  $780  $9,366
 20  Las Vegas  $762  $9,146
by Adron

The Good News In Transit, The Private Sector

The original transit systems in the United States were all private sector. The passenger rail systems all over the United States were private sector. The US had transportation that was the envy of the world then!

It comes as no surprise then that the transit that is getting increases works with and for the private sector to get them involved. The private sector works with transit to get things moving.

Trimet in Portland is moving to increase service at the next schedule change, almost across the board. Seattle Streetcar is increasing service because of funding  from Amazon, Fred Hutch, and UW Medicine for rush hour service. I quote from the article,

“With several thousand additional employees moving into SLU this year, the employers are concerned that the cars are already pretty full during this timeframe and they want to be able to encourage as many employees as possible to take transit”

All over the country were the private sector is getting involved, Intercity Buses for example,  things are moving forward and actually happening. If our politicians can stay on track and actually work for the people and work with the private sector we can get this country put back together from the crumbling that is happening now. We may have no change to reclaim the industrial power house we were in the 1920-1950s, but we sure as hell can become a very livable and dynamic country.

by Adron

Wow, That Summarizes Metro’s Need to Get With The Program

Recently I posted an entry about how Metro just wasn’t holding up well with costs per ride.  Metro is an amazing system, considering, but Portland and many other cities are cheaper & more efficient at carrying riders to their destinations.  Making those systems a much better investment of the particular cities.  Hopefully Metro is getting on top of this problem to come up with some GOOD solutions, which doesn’t mean expanding expensive bus service or continuing to server long range outlying areas.  The cost efficiencies are not in serving the suburbs, which Metro does a LOT of these days.  Add Sound Transit, Sounder, and some of the other modes that serve the far outlying areas and you run into even HIGHER costs!

Here’s the article that recently just backed up my notion that Metro needs more light rail, more urban transit, more town center focus, and better all around town center structures that are people oriented.  Vancouver BC is proof, Portland is proof, and many other cities.  Seattle could easily cut their costs by a 1/5, possible even by a 1/3rd if they got after a very aggressive timeline in adding truly efficient transit options (light rail, urban walkability, and other such things are prime examples to help ridership & efficiencies).

Here’s a graph.

Wow, Light Rail is Cheap

Wow, Light Rail is Cheap

Some key links that show Metro IS at least heading the right direction.