Policy Transit HEAVY RAIL CST TIE LN STATE O REGI NAL IPACT LOCAL RID OR OR C SPT H HURLES TRANSIT AENCY UNIN STATE More Information: tti.tamu.edu/policy/how-to-fix-congestion SUCCESS STORIES Description • Contributes to increasing New York City, New York Heavy rail (also called metro rail, sub- property values and preserves The New York City subway way, rapid transit, or rapid rail) is an elec- urban land for taxable is one of the world’s oldest tric railway on devoted rights-of-way development. public transit systems and that handles many passengers at once. is also the busiest rapid rail Implementation Issues Tracks may be placed in subway tunnels transit system in the United (like in New York City), on elevated struc- Heavy rail remains extremely expensive States. tures (like in Chicago), or on fenced-off, to build due to its need for tunnels, ele- ground-level tracks that do not cross vated structures, or other fully devoted roads. rights-of-way. However, high ridership Chicago, Illinois offsets high costs. Although a heavy-rail Target Market system is, on average, more than four Heavy rail works best in very dense times as expensive as a light-rail system, 1892 Chicago and the South urban settings, where large populations heavy rail costs less per rider and per Side Rapid Transit Railroad primarily want to move toward and with- passenger mile. opened the first L line. in a major city’s central business district. Heavy rail needs a population of 3 million When implementing a heavy-rail transit to 15 million people to be successful. plan, public support is critical. Supportive public policies maximize heavy rail’s 1947 How Will This Help? benefits over time. Additionally, proper The Chicago Transit • Provides faster speeds and zoning and parking regulation increase Authority acquired the right to operate the greater capacity than other system ridership and development system. transit modes. around new and existing stations. For the next 40 years, • Provides a competitive annual ridership remained alternative to driving. remarkably stable. • Promotes transit-oriented development. By 2012, ridership exceeded 231 million..