Mass Transit Survey

[Nav]

I used to take the light rail whenever I went downtown but since I live in Elbert County, I now have to pay $4 just to park at the park and ride lot. To go into town with my wife and park at the Lincoln station it sets me back $22,(2 people, $9.00 per person round trip + $4 parking). It only costs $7 ($5 parking and $2 gas) to make the same trip by car. 3 times as much, if I want to go green. A lot of my co workers are doing the same thing.

Light rail is no longer an affordable option. Most cities encourage light rail usage. Unfortunately, Denver hasn't quite embraced the Concept. Take Atlanta for instance. Their MARTA system is far more extensive than Denver's and even goes to the airport. You pay one flat rate, It was around $2 last time I was there, and you are "on the system" you can ride anywhere the tracks go for that same fee. Very efficient, very affordable and very popular. Day Parking was always free, overnight incurred a small charge.

Nav

[Legs1357]

Originally Posted by wanttomoveeast

I thought RTD updated that or is soon doing so ? I think you are soon going to be able to dial a no. and get a bus' location.

I don't think it's as late as you suggest, I mean, I take the bus everyday and soon you get to realize that you need to be there at a certain time to get to work. I get there at a certain time and know if I miss one when the next one will be and what time I'll get downtown. It rarely varies (except for very snowy days). Again, it could be just my bus. I can only compare the bus situation in Thornton to downtown, where I moved from.

oh and downtown is totally affordable, the areas around anyway. You just have to look hardcore and stay away from the obvious hotspots, lodo, etc. Even the lofts right off the mall are affordable (17th/Stout? - The Bank Bldg.?)

Buses yes, lightrail status, no. And if the lightrail doesn't have as many delays as some systems, the kudos to them.

Originally Posted by Nav

Light rail is no longer an affordable option. Most cities encourage light rail usage. Unfortunately, Denver hasn't quite embraced the Concept. Take Atlanta for instance. Their MARTA system is far more extensive than Denver's and even goes to the airport. You pay one flat rate, It was around $2 last time I was there, and you are "on the system" you can ride anywhere the tracks go for that same fee. Very efficient, very affordable and very popular. Day Parking was always free, overnight incurred a small charge.

Nav

MARTA is much less accesible and intelligently designed. Yes, its only advantage is that it goes to the airport. But there's only 2.5ish lines, making it difficult at best to consider it a viable commuting option for anyone other than those who work directly downtown. And comparing prices to MARTA isn't necessarily a good idea...they're broke. The future of MARTA is very uncertain, they're not in a good place financially.