Replies

The problem with mass transit systems is "LAST MILE". Mass Transit works great into Manhattan and other large cities, because most of the jobs are either near a station, or there's a supplemental transportation system, such as a subway, which can get people to where they're going. But not a lot of jobs are being added in downtown areas. They're being added in the suburbs. There are many reasons for this: like it or not, people with families want lawns, and therefore want to live in the suburbs. Next, taxes. This is often the primary reason. Property taxes, as well as higher income taxes, drive many companies to the suburbs, where rents are also considerably cheaper. Finally, environmental. What does environmental have to do with white collar jobs? Well, due to EPA laws, you buy a property, you're responsible for environmental damage, even if it was done before you bought it. So you have the choice of building in downtown, where there could have been environmental contamination in 1930, or you buy an old corn farm out in the burbs, and make it into an office park. No risk of environmental contamination.

So you've got all these people living and working in disparate areas in the suburbs. You've got mass transit, but the nearest stop may be 4 or 5 miles from the office park. Some larger office parks have a minivan, but not all. Add to the fact a lot of people have to work until their job is done, and they might miss the last train home. So they drive. That's a problem here in Connecticut: there's mass transit, but a lot of companies aren't that close to the stops.

Mass Transit works great into Manhattan and other large cities, because most of the jobs are either near a station, or there's a supplemental transportation system, such as a subway, which can get people to where they're going. But not a lot of jobs are being added in downtown areas. They're being added in the suburbs.

Correct. But that's where the most recent suburban light rail systems have succeeded. When Portland built Westside MAX, business development happened at the station sites long before the line opened, some $6 billion worth. Businesses are eager to relocate near these stations.

Take a look at what Dallas' DART lines have done to the suburbs, especially the recently opened Plano line.

Light rail is doing what planners hoped it would do: Create urban villages in the suburbs driven by businesses.

"This is often the primary reason. Property taxes, as well as higher income taxes, drive many companies to the suburbs, where rents are also considerably cheaper."

Further irony ... our Austin Metro system cannot nearly fund itself with fares of course so it requires a sales tax of .5% to support... so the city burdens itself with higher taxes, driving away businesses just to have this service.
Leading to yet more suburban shopping malls and suburban 'sprawl'. go figure.