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I was surprised to read that Oklahoma City has a burgeoning transit authority that's planning to advance a referendum for a new region-wide transit system (which may be BRT, light rail, or commuter rail). This could really help move the OKC region into a different league. Salt Lake City's TRAX shows it can be done in a mid-sized metro in a conservative state, if the case is made right.
What other US cities, which don't have light rail now, either have funding already in place or major campaigns pushing for it? Which ones just seem likely to do it soon simply because of population growth or political shifts?
I'm surprised that Austin and San Antonio don't have such systems yet. I would have figured Nashville might have been a good candidate, but I believe it was put to the voters and lost.
Columbus is the largest city in the country without any form of passenger rail and it's long overdue for it. I could see it happening within the next decade or so given how quickly the city is growing and how much infill is happening.
Columbus is the largest city in the country without any form of passenger rail and it's long overdue for it. I could see it happening within the next decade or so given how quickly the city is growing and how much infill is happening.
Even just simple High Street and Broad Street lines would make a lot of sense.
Columbus is the largest city in the country without any form of passenger rail and it's long overdue for it. I could see it happening within the next decade or so given how quickly the city is growing and how much infill is happening.
Its been growing for decades and there hasn't been one millimetre of progress on this front. Its not normal to wait for your city to surpass one million population and then start thinking about light rail.
I'm surprised that Austin and San Antonio don't have such systems yet. I would have figured Nashville might have been a good candidate, but I believe it was put to the voters and lost.
Austin is building a $10B+ system that will include a number of subway stops downtown, an airport link, etc. I think they are close to the "30% design". There is also an existing rail line that somewhere in between light rail and "commuter rail". It's not great but it does exist and can be nice for some trips. It works especially well for Austin FC games.
Tampa/St. Pete? I know Tampa has a vintage street car, but outside of that, I don't think they have a system there.
There’s a streetcar but it’s mostly there for tourism purposes. Real light rail has been voted down in the past and there’s no real prospect of it coming. There’s talk of expanding the streetcar system but I don’t know if it will ever really be functional for residents.
There’s a streetcar but it’s mostly there for tourism purposes. Real light rail has been voted down in the past and there’s no real prospect of it coming. There’s talk of expanding the streetcar system but I don’t know if it will ever really be functional for residents.
Those little street car things are not passenger rail IMHO. Most certainly isn't mass transit. We have one of those things where I live and it was sold as a quasi urban transit thing by the Hipster progs. None of them ride it. The critics said it would be like an amusement park ride for suburban folks and that is exactly what happened. People from the burbs go a central entertainment area, park in the garage, do stuff there then hop the choo choo and ride around downtown. The thing loses so much money it is hilarious.
A lot of these cities might wanna first make sure buses run at least every 15 minutes on 20 core routes. And do little things to make them faster, like bulb out the stops when possible and give them queue jumps at lights.
Then light rail can up their game for trunk routes, ideally with <10-minute frequencies, fewer stops, and grade separation.
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