DOCSLIB.ORG

Metro Moves September-October 1994

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Metro Moves September-October 1994 Metropolitan SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1994 Transiportation Authoritt' ( ) METRO7:4 SM TRO OVES Smashing the Bus vs. Rail Myth Transit Tokens - A balanced transportation system is the answer The Best Deal in Town! Although the MTA has been pre- vented from implementing its new fare structure — at least until the results of a hearing in the U.S. Federal Court an Oct. 27 before Judge Terry Hatter (see accompany- ing article an Page 1) — the following is a breakdown of the new fare structure, as it compares with the existing fare structure, and how using the transit token can already be a cost-saving method. Choose Tokens A 90-cent token can be used to cover the Base tran- sit fare an MTA buses and Blue Line trains. Using a token is a 20-cent savings when applied to the current one-way base fare of $1.10 he MTA has been at the center of a scheduled for Oct. 17, but the judge put the spirited public and legal debate these matter over again until Oct. 27. If, and when, the MTA implements a new fare rate of $1.35, using a days. When the MTA board approved Rail vs. Bus seems to be the real issue here. its 1994-95 fiscal year budget, part of token will amount to a sav- This article is not in defense of either ings of 45 cents per trip. the funds to reduce its $126-million transportation mode; rather, it is a state- Tdollar operating deficit were to be obtained In fact, as much as $4.50 a ment of the facts concerning the MTA's by raising the bus fares from $1.10 to $1.35. week can be saved this responsibility to the citizens of Los way for those who take Set to go into effect an Sept. 1, the fare Angeles County. one round trip every increase prompted a lawsuit against the It's the MTA's j ob to plan, build and maintain weekday. MTA by a coalition of grass-roots organiza- a balanced transportation system that tions who charge that the fare increase serves the needs of all its constituents — and About 25 mil- unfairly discriminates against minorities and such a system consists of bus, rail and high- lion tokens the poor. way programs. The MTA is working hard to are available The complaint, filed in the U.S. Federal accomplish this goal. to the public, Court an Sept. 1, alleges that the MTA's rail and can be pur- construction program is too costly and it A Balanced Transportation System chased in bags of uses funds that could cover the MTA's opera- It is often said that Los Angeles area resi- 10 for $9. Eighty percent of these dents live in their cars. While this may not tions shortfall. Further, the bus riders' (continued, page coalition asserts that rail transit serves pri- be true for mang who are transit-dependent, marily the county's more affluent residents, more Ulan 30 million passenger trips are while the poor and minorities make up the taken daily an Los Angeles' vast freeway bulk of the bus ridership. and street system. If L.A.'s population continues growing at its Temporary Restraining Order current rate, travel demand will rise 31% by U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter issued a the year 2015 due to a 33% increase in popu- temporary restraining order, and later a pre- lation and a 29% increase in employment. liminary injunction, forbidding the MTA to With only existing planned improvements, raise its bus and Blue Line trolley fares. The the average rush-hour speed will drop from MTA was unsuccessful in appealing the the current 29 mph to only 7 mph by 2015, injunction before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court and street driving will slow to only 4.9 mph. of Appeals. The bus fare therefore remains at $1.10 until there is a full hearing an the To help improve traffic flow and increase matter before Judge Hatten A hearing was commuter options, an integrated Metro (continued, page 3) used for buses. Total MTA subsidy to Metrolink for fiscal year 1995 is $76 million ("Tokens,"continued) — 2.6% of MTA's budget. tokens were newly minted in anticipation of the fare increase. In short, tokens are CEO Talk nTotal cost of MTA's combined rail program, the best transit deal in town. including construction and operations, is BY RANNKLIN WHITE 29% of MTA's total $2.9 billion budget — Transfers will continue to cost 25 cents, not the 79% claimed by the plaintiffs. and only 10 cents for seniors, disabled. Monthly passes will still be available for The facts regarding who is and will be using the elderly and disabled, and K-12 and Facts and Fictions the rail lines debunk completely the plaintiffs' vocational students at discounted rates. claims of racial bias. Indeed, the charges against MTA are not about discrimination, "Our Jong-term plan is to have up to 660 It seems ironic but rather about rail disenchantment coming outlets available where riders may buy that the MTA from those who oppose rail construction. tokens," said MTA Chief Executive should be accused Their disenchantment is short-sighted. Officer Franklin White. "I strongly urge of racial prejudice regular cash payers to use the conve- The Southern California Association of in setting fares nient tokens." Governments predicts by the year 2015 a 31% when approxi- increase in travel demand arising from a 33% mately 75% of our Benefits When Traveling Between Zones increase in population and a 29% increase in employees are There's some good news for those MTA employment. Notwithstanding the rail lines minority and vir- bus and rail patrons who must travel we are presently building, with present tually every bus between zones on their daily commute. behavior, in 2015 during the peak hour free- and rail line we Once the new fare increase is implement- way speeds will average 7 mph and street operate serves ed, which will raise the base fare rate speeds 4.9 mph. minorities. Odder still is the accusation that from $1.10 to $1.35, patrons traveling the rail lines under construction are to serve Such conditions will destroy the regional between zones can use a a 90-cent token white communities, when statistics show economy and make it impossible to meet clean to cover their initial fare, after that, each every line under construction by the MTA air mandates. Alternative modes, like rail, additional zone traveled costs 50 cents. will serve predominantly minority groups. which supplement the road system, will clear- Before the new fare structure goes into Here are the facts: ly be needed. effect, zone changes remain at 40 cents. n Minority population in the rail corridors Since the nay-sayers have no responsibility "Even though our zone rates may go up that we now serve or in which rail pro- for and have failed to examine the future, by a dime," said Franklin White, the jects are under construction averages they oller no solutions. But we, in positions of MTAs chief executive officer, "when a 81%. responsibility, recognize that the MTA has at patron uses a token for the base fare, he least two fundamental obligations: or she is ahead of the game by 45 cents." n The Long Beach Blue Line has a two- thirds minority ridership. To provide good transportation to today's Bus passengers who ride an MTA riders; and also express bus, with a freeway as part of its n The Pasadena Blue Line, singled out as an regular route, will be the most affecteu example of preference for wealthy white to prepare for the transportation demands of tomorrow. by the zone fare increase. Express buses suburbanites, is actually defined by the travel a maximum of five zones. which Federal Transportation Authority as a I believe the MTA Board struck the right bal- can add as much as $2.50 to the base fare. minority line, with a 63% minority within ance in pursuit of these two objectives and The new zone fare for seniors, the dis- its corridor. that their decision is confirmed by the fare abled and blind patrons will increase n Metrolink, a creation of five counties with data from other urban centers which clearly from 20 cents to 25 cents. its own board of directors, is funded from demonstrates L.A.'s proposed fares to be firmly in the mainstream. For example, The new fare structure also assigns several local voter passed initiatives, the three zones to the Metro Blue Line Sys- revenues from which cannot legally be Philadelphia's fare has been $1.50 for several years. It was, after all, the MTA's first fare tem. One zone boundary is between Del increase in six years. Amo and Artesia Boulevards, and the r other one is between the Firestone and Federal Court is no place for resolution of this Florence stations. Blue Line riders Receive argument. How much riders ought to con- entering any portion of the zones, will tribute to the costs of transit and where to also be required to pay an additional 50 strike the Balance between service for today cents for each zone. Metro Moves and preparing for tomorrow are questions of public policy and better left to a board respon- For example, a Blue Line rider boarding Every Month sive to the electorate. Whether rail ought to in Long Beach intending to go all the be pursued also is a matter for the MTA way to downtown Los Angeles could use If you'd like to be on our mailing list, Board, not the court.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16
    California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16 December 2005 California Department of Transportation ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor SUNNE WRIGHT McPEAK, Secretary Business, Transportation and Housing Agency WILL KEMPTON, Director California Department of Transportation JOSEPH TAVAGLIONE, Chair STATE OF CALIFORNIA ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER JEREMIAH F. HALLISEY, Vice Chair GOVERNOR BOB BALGENORTH MARIAN BERGESON JOHN CHALKER JAMES C. GHIELMETTI ALLEN M. LAWRENCE R. K. LINDSEY ESTEBAN E. TORRES SENATOR TOM TORLAKSON, Ex Officio ASSEMBLYMEMBER JENNY OROPEZA, Ex Officio JOHN BARNA, Executive Director CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 1120 N STREET, MS-52 P. 0 . BOX 942873 SACRAMENTO, 94273-0001 FAX(916)653-2134 (916) 654-4245 http://www.catc.ca.gov December 29, 2005 Honorable Alan Lowenthal, Chairman Senate Transportation and Housing Committee State Capitol, Room 2209 Sacramento, CA 95814 Honorable Jenny Oropeza, Chair Assembly Transportation Committee 1020 N Street, Room 112 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear: Senator Lowenthal Assembly Member Oropeza: On behalf of the California Transportation Commission, I am transmitting to the Legislature the 10-year California State Rail Plan for FY 2005-06 through FY 2015-16 by the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with the Commission's resolution (#G-05-11) giving advice and consent, as required by Section 14036 of the Government Code. The ten-year plan provides Caltrans' vision for intercity rail service. Caltrans'l0-year plan goals are to provide intercity rail as an alternative mode of transportation, promote congestion relief, improve air quality, better fuel efficiency, and improved land use practices. This year's Plan includes: standards for meeting those goals; sets priorities for increased revenues, increased capacity, reduced running times; and cost effectiveness.
    [Show full text]
  • An Evaluation of Projected Versus Actual Ridership on Los Angeles’ Metro Rail Lines
    AN EVALUATION OF PROJECTED VERSUS ACTUAL RIDERSHIP ON LOS ANGELES’ METRO RAIL LINES A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master In Urban and Regional Planning By Lyle D. Janicek 2019 SIGNATURE PAGE THESIS: AN EVALUATION OF PROJECTED VERSUS ACTUAL RIDERSHIP ON LOS ANGELES’ METRO RAIL LINES AUTHOR: Lyle D. Janicek DATE SUBMITTED: Spring 2019 Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning Dr. Richard W. Willson Thesis Committee Chair Urban and Regional Planning Dr. Dohyung Kim Urban and Regional Planning Dr. Gwen Urey Urban and Regional Planning ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work would not have been possible without the support of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I am especially indebted to Dr. Rick Willson, Dr. Dohyung Kim, and Dr. Gwen Urey of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, who have been supportive of my career goals and who worked actively to provide me with educational opportunities to pursue those goals. I am grateful to all of those with whom I have had the pleasure to work during this and other related projects with my time at Cal Poly Pomona. Each of the members of my Thesis Committee has provided me extensive personal and professional guidance and taught me a great deal about both scientific research and life in general. Nobody has been more supportive to me in the pursuit of this project than the members of my family. I would like to thank my parents Larry and Laurie Janicek, whose love and guidance are with me in whatever I pursue.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Open House #1 South Gate Park January 27, 2016 Today’S Agenda
    Community Open House #1 South Gate Park January 27, 2016 Today’s Agenda 1) Gateway District Specific Plan 2) Efforts To Date 3) Specific Plan Process 4) TOD Best Practices 5) Community Feedback 27 JANUARY 2016 | page 2 Gateway District Specific Plan What is the West Santa Ana Branch? The West Santa Ana Branch (WSAB) is a transit corridor connecting southeast Los Angeles County (including South Gate) to Downtown Los Angeles via the abandoned Pacific Electric Right- of-Way (ROW). Goals for the Corridor: 1. PLACE-MAKING: Make the station the center of a new destination that is special and unique to each community. 2. CONNECTIONS: Connect residential neighborhoods, employment centers, and destinations to the station. 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL: Concentrate jobs and homes in the station area to reap the benefits that transit brings to communities. 27 JANUARY 2016 | page 4 What is light rail transit? The South Gate Transit Station will be served by light rail and bus services. Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a form of urban rail public transportation that operates at a higher capacity and higher speed compared to buses or street-running tram systems (i.e. trolleys or streetcars). LRT Benefits: • LRT is a quiet, electric system that is environmentally-friendly. • Using LRT helps reduce automobile dependence, traffic congestion, and Example of an at-grade alignment LRT, Gold Line in Pasadena, CA. pollution. • LRT is affordable and a less costly option than the automobile (where costs include parking, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, tickets, etc..). • LRT is an efficient and convenient way to get to and from destinations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation
    Special Report 294 The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation Prepublication Copy Uncorrected Proofs TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2008 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE* Chair: Debra L. Miller, Secretary, Kansas Department of Transportation, Topeka Vice Chair: Adib K. Kanafani, Cahill Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley Executive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board J. Barry Barker, Executive Director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, Kentucky Allen D. Biehler, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg John D. Bowe, President, Americas Region, APL Limited, Oakland, California Larry L. Brown, Sr., Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Jackson Deborah H. Butler, Executive Vice President, Planning, and CIO, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk, Virginia William A. V. Clark, Professor, Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles David S. Ekern, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond Nicholas J. Garber, Henry L. Kinnier Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Jeffrey W. Hamiel, Executive Director, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis, Minnesota Edward A. (Ned) Helme, President, Center for Clean Air Policy, Washington, D.C. Will Kempton, Director, California Department of Transportation, Sacramento Susan Martinovich, Director, Nevada Department of Transportation, Carson City Michael D. Meyer, Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
    [Show full text]
  • Examining the Los Angeles Metro Examining the Los Angeles Metro
    Examining the Examining Examining the Los Angeles Metro Angeles Los Los Angeles Metro A NEEDS-BASED TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION NEEDS-BASED A A NEEDS-BASED TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS ANALYSIS Frank romo Frank Frank romo Master of Urban Planning, 2016 Planning, Urban of Master Master of Urban Planning, 2016 The planned expansion of the Los Angeles Metro Rail promises to provide Angelinos with access to public transportation. However, some critics of the L.A. Metro Rail believe that the expanding network will primarily serve tourist destinations and powerful economic hubs rather than supporting the residents most in need of public transportation. Through spatial analysis, we find that the L.A. Metro Rail expansion will not benefit the residents most in need of public transportation. spatial analysis n the early 1900s Los Angeles County contained separate rail lines and 73 miles of track (LA Metro one of the largest public transportation systems 2008). The continuing expansion of the L.A. Metro I in the United States. The Pacific Electric Red Rail presents a great opportunity for residents who Car system serviced multiple counties in Southern rely on public transportation. California with over 1,000 miles of streetcar lines. However, with the introduction of the automobile, most of the rail network fell into disrepair and was subsequently dismantled in the 1950s. Over the next few decades, the automobile became the primary mode of transportation and its infrastructure transformed Los Angeles from an interconnected region into a sprawling metropolis dominated by the personal vehicle. As a result, Los Angeles has become a classic example of how planning for personal vehicles can have negative impacts on cities and their inhabitants.
    [Show full text]
  • MTA Report December 2009
    Metro Report: Home CEO Hotline Viewpoint Classified Ads Archives Metro.net (web) Resources Safety Pressroom (web) Ask the CEO CEO Forum Employee Recognition Employee Activities Metro Projects Facts at a Glance (web) Archives Events Calendar November 14, 2009: Metro Gold Line train breaks through banner, then a shower of confetti, Research Center/ at official dedication of new light rail to East Los Angeles. Photo by Gary Leonard Library Metro Classifieds 2009 in Review: Growth, Transitions and Farewells Bazaar The Year in Review Metro Info January February March April May June July August September October November December 30/10 Initiative Compiled by Michael D. White Policies Staff Writer Training Metro’s memories of 2009 were marked by a year of growth, transition and some farewells. The Help Desk transit agency saw the inauguration of several new bus and rail services, major progress on a number of Measure R-funded projects and employees also greeted a new CEO. Intranet Policy The year’s highlights included receiving nearly $235 million in federal funding for a host of transit Need e-Help? projects, the opening of the Gold Line Extension to East L.A., and the installation of a state-of- the-art solar panel array at Metro’s Support Services Center in downtown Los Angeles. Call the Help Desk at 2-4357 A record $3.9 billion budget for FY09 was approved to fund the agency’s operational requirements, Contact myMetro.net and later in the year the Metro Board approved its Long Range Transportation Plan which contains an ambitious list of projects for the next 30 years.
    [Show full text]
  • FTA Annual Report on Public Transportation Innovation Research Projects for Fiscal Year 2020 JANUARY 2021
    FTA Annual Report on Public Transportation Innovation Research Projects for Fiscal Year 2020 JANUARY 2021 FTA Report No. 0181 Federal Transit Administration PREPARED BY Federal Transit Administration COVER PHOTO Courtesy of Edwin Adilson Rodriguez, Federal Transit Administration DISCLAIMER This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. The United States Government does not endorse products of manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the objective of this report. FTA Annual Report on Public Transportation Innovation Research Projects for Fiscal Year 2020 JANUARY 2021 FTA Report No. 0181 SPONSORED BY Federal Transit Administration Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 AVAILABLE ONLINE https://www.transit.dot.gov/about/research-innovation FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION i MetricMetric Conversion Conversion Table Table Metric Conversion Table SYMBOL WHEN YOU KNOW MULTIPLY BY TO FIND SYMBOL LENGTH in inches 25.4 millimeters mm ft feet 0.305 meters m yd yards 0.914 meters m mi miles 1.61 kilometers km VOLUME fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL gal gallons 3.785 liters L ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3 yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3 NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3 MASS oz ounces 28.35 grams g lb pounds 0.454 kilograms kg megagrams T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 Mg (or "t") (or "metric ton") TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) 5 (F-32)/9 oF Fahrenheit Celsius oC or (F-32)/1.8 FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION iv FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ii Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No.
    [Show full text]
  • Passenger Flows in Underground Railway Stations and Platforms
    MTI Funded by U.S. Department of Services Transit Census California of Water 2012 Transportation and California Passenger Flows in Department of Transportation Underground Railway Stations and Platforms MTI ReportMTI 12-02 MTI Report 12-43 December 2012 MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE MTI FOUNDER Hon. Norman Y. Mineta The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) was established by Congress in 1991 as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act (ISTEA) and was reauthorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century (TEA-21). MTI then successfully MTI BOARD OF TRUSTEES competed to be named a Tier 1 Center in 2002 and 2006 in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Most recently, MTI successfully competed in the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011 to Founder, Honorable Norman Thomas Barron (TE 2015) Ed Hamberger (Ex-Officio) Michael Townes* (TE 2014) be named a Tier 1 Transit-Focused University Transportation Center. The Institute is funded by Congress through the United States Mineta (Ex-Officio) Executive Vice President President/CEO Senior Vice President Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), University Transportation Secretary (ret.), US Department of Strategic Initiatives Association of American Railroads Transit Sector Transportation Parsons Group HNTB Centers Program, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and by private grants and donations. Vice Chair Steve Heminger* (TE 2015) Hill & Knowlton, Inc. Joseph Boardman (Ex-Officio) Executive Director Bud Wright (Ex-Officio) Chief Executive Officer Metropolitan Transportation Executive Director The Institute receives oversight from an internationally respected Board of Trustees whose members represent all major surface Honorary Chair, Honorable Bill Amtrak Commission American Association of State transportation modes.
    [Show full text]
  • La Metro Bus Schedule Los Angeles
    La Metro Bus Schedule Los Angeles Kinematical and dancing Cleveland never swishes rearwards when Roy flock his hylobates. Glossographical and ancient Cristopher gutturalising so shockingly that Neel overpeoples his embitterments. Worthington disharmonizes companionably. Sea level eastbound and metro los angeles in modesto, or expo line to keep you can use the oakley Delhi metro bus company in la metro bus schedule los angeles area is. Environemnt set of metro projects under the la cabeza arriba counties remain adjusted multiple times and timetables or it, please provide services which ends in. Advertising on bus? This bus schedules and los angeles angels acting and the. Find bus schedule and la metro. Go to operate as we need a bus rapid transit centers, it was a tuesday press the tap your favorites list on la metro schedule and the east los. And decker canyon, select courtrooms allow you need a ceo and power purchase and surrounding communities that is part of washington will be eligible indian citizens. Pm angeles angels acting pitching coach matt wise has satisfied federal district like champion, schedules español view stops snow routes. What makes us a metro schedules and la via las inexactitudes, not exceed time. This bus schedules in la metro station, which bus and metro has a major corridors. Senior executive director richard stanger critiqued the bus. This article and la metro bus schedule los angeles city los angeles video. The metro network and what language assistance is to supplement regular routes to know more than five percent of las traducciones por favor and! Find bus schedule and la is scheduled times more common after a little tokyo metro.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Los Angeles Metro Rail Construction on Adjacent Businesses
    T J T L U http://jtlu.org V. 10 N. 1 [2017] pp. 725–742 Open for business? Effects of Los Angeles Metro Rail construction on adjacent businesses Rosalie Ray Columbia University [email protected] Abstract: Recent court cases and news reports have focused on the Article history: effects of transit construction on business revenue and survival, yet the Received: August 17, 2016 topic is underexplored in the scholarly literature. This paper examines Received in revised form: April whether transit construction negatively affected the revenue and sur- 24, 2017 vival of businesses along the second segment of the Los Angeles Metro Accepted: May 1, 2017 Rail Red Line under Vermont and Hollywood Boulevards. Using Na- Available online: July 27, 2017 tional Establishment Time-Series business data, the research shows that business survival was significantly lower among businesses within 400 meters of stations, where cut and cover construction was used. A difference-in-differences technique was employed to determine wheth- er revenue loss was the main mechanism by which businesses were dis- placed, but revenue loss was not found to be significant. The increased failure rate provides evidence that construction effects of mitigation programs for businesses should be standard practice when building new transit lines. Further research and data collection on business ten- ure are needed to understand the dynamics of business displacement around transit and to make such programs more effective. 1 Introduction Planners and politicians sell major transit investments with the dual promise of 1) providing residents and businesses with better access and 2) transforming corridors through economic development.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of Rail Transit on Property Values: a Summary of Studies
    THE EFFECT OF RAIL TRANSIT ON PROPERTY VALUES: A SUMMARY OF STUDIES Research carried out for Project 21439S, Task 7 NEORail II, Cleveland, Ohio D R A F T February 27, 2001 INTRODUCTION A good transit system provides a hig h level of access to work and other activities for households and to customers and employees for businesses. The monetary value of this access will be reflected in the value of a home or a business, in addition to the value of other features such as the specific physical attributes of the building and neighborhood characteristics. This paper reviews recent studies on rail transit’s effect on property values. A matrix with the key findings of the major studies carried out over the last ten years can be found in the last section. The impact of rail transit on property values has been studied from many perspectives, including analyses of different types of systems (e.g., rapid, commuter, light rail), of residential versus commercial impacts, and studies that have attempted to isolate both positive and negative effects. The varied approaches make it difficult to compare the results of one study to another. Further, some of the contradictory results over the years have often been due to differing methods of analysis, data quality, and regional differences. Nevertheless, it is clear that in most cases access to rail systems is valued by property owners and there is little support for the suggestion that proximity to rail actually decreases property values. TYPES OF IMPACTS Evidence for rail’s influence on residential property values has been demonstrated more clearly than for commercial uses (Nelson 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Wheel Clicks
    WHEEL CLICKS RIVER TOWNS UPDATE by Tom Nelson A cruise on the Mississippi River between New Orleans (N.O.) and Vicksburg, April 27 to May 4 provided an oppor- tunity to note changes in rail facilities. See Rail Transit Tempo in the June 2007 issue of Wheel Clicks. It had been several years since a previous visit along this section of the river. The Riverfront streetcar line in N.O. is double track, but an adjacent third track has no trolley wire, since it is for freight. It seemed busier than I recalled before. Both short and very long strings of freight cars pulled by N.O. Public Service locomo- tives were busy tripping crossing signals as they passed by. A fair-size rail yard, along the Mississippi River, not far from down- town was receiving and dispatching trains from and to this track which used to serve the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Our first riverboat stop was at Natchez, Miss. A short walk into town led to the former Mississippi Central Railroad termi- nal. It consists of two parallel brick buildings, one for freight On April 26, 2007, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority's and offices, the other for passengers. Deadend tracks were lo- Perley Thomas streetcar 904 is seen at the end of the Canal cated in the open space between the freight and passenger wings. Street line branch to Cemeteries at Canal and City Park Ave. There were no-tracks when I was there before. as well as now, The car is ready to depart for downtown.
    [Show full text]