TEN MYTHS ABOUT U.S. URBAN RAIL SYSTEMS

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1999

Subject Area

place - urban, mode - rail

Keywords

Urban transportation, Trade off analysis, Ridership, Railroad transportation, Railroad rails, Rail transportation, Rail (Railroads), Patronage (Transit ridership), Intracity transportation, Cost effectiveness, Comparison studies, Alternatives analysis

Abstract

The proponents of rail transit have promulgated a set of stock arguments to help convince officials and the electorate that rail transit is a necessary component of a contemporary urban transportation system. These myths have gradually worked their way into conventional wisdom. The authors examine and dispel the following rail myths: (1) rail is cost-effective, (2) rail is the people's choice, (3) rail is fast transit, (4) rail is high capacity transit, (5) rail construction provides jobs, (6) rail promotes superior urban form, (7) rail will be paid for with non-local funds that cannot be used for other purposes, (8) rail will attract new riders to transit, (9) rail will decongest roads, and (10) there are no alternatives to rail.

Comments

Transport Policy Home Page: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0967070X

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS