The future of public transportation in the Valley... (Mesa, Glendale: high school, university)

[CAHLUV]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I guess people should learn to love 2 to 3 hr one way commutes in the future, because without adequate public transit that will be our future....

Pretty much or move to a smaller city not connected to a major metro. If and when it gets like L.A. I'll personally be looking to split my time between a much smaller metro area and here.

[jnojr]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I guess people should learn to love 2 to 3 hr one way commutes in the future, because without adequate public transit that will be our future....

Please explain how mass public transportation is going to prevent that. How do you make sure everyone goes where you want them to go, when you want them to go there? What happens to those whose schedules do not happen to coincide with your master schedule?

Yes, this works in a few places... dense, old cities that have been interwoven with a system that has stops nearly everywhere. Also systems build decades ago when such projects could be done with budgets somewhat under what it took to get us to the moon. Every new public transportation scheme involves jaw-dropping, staggering amounts of money and endless taxpayer subsidies... none are anything close to profitable. And no, "the public good" cannot replace operating at a profit... money must come from somewhere to go into the maws of these programs. Where is that place? What should be cut to build your grand vision?

Mass public transportation is dead, because it's a solution for the last century's problems. The private market will address the real issues of the 21st century with self-driving cars. Buses and light rail do not work. And I will not be forced on to them... so long as that's the answer, I'm uninterested in the question and will continue to drive my single-occupant car no matter how much you complain that that doesn't fit in your idea of a Great Society... my society must be great for ME, not for a collective. I am not an insect.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by jnojr

Please explain how mass public transportation is going to prevent that. How do you make sure everyone goes where you want them to go, when you want them to go there? What happens to those whose schedules do not happen to coincide with your master schedule?

Yes, this works in a few places... dense, old cities that have been interwoven with a system that has stops nearly everywhere. Also systems build decades ago when such projects could be done with budgets somewhat under what it took to get us to the moon. Every new public transportation scheme involves jaw-dropping, staggering amounts of money and endless taxpayer subsidies... none are anything close to profitable. And no, "the public good" cannot replace operating at a profit... money must come from somewhere to go into the maws of these programs. Where is that place? What should be cut to build your grand vision?

Mass public transportation is dead, because it's a solution for the last century's problems. The private market will address the real issues of the 21st century with self-driving cars. Buses and light rail do not work. And I will not be forced on to them... so long as that's the answer, I'm uninterested in the question and will continue to drive my single-occupant car no matter how much you complain that that doesn't fit in your idea of a Great Society... my society must be great for ME, not for a collective. I am not an insect.

That's all well and good, but in the words of Jeff Bridges "well...that's just like ..your opinion, man"

Further, maybe Chandler won't get light rail, but Phoenix and Tempe will continue to expand public transit per the will of their voters

[Pink Jazz]

Meanwhile, disabled residents in Gilbert just last week successfully fought to save paratransit service from being reduced from town-wide to the minimum federally mandated area (3/4 miles of a fixed route bus line). That would have left south Gilbert and a portion of east-central Gilbert without paratransit service (no bus routes south of Williams Field with the exception of the Gilbert Road line and the Chandler/Williams Field deviation to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, and no north-south lines between Gilbert Road and Power, with the next east-west line up by Elliot/Guadalupe).

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

That's all well and good, but in the words of Jeff Bridges "well...that's just like ..your opinion, man"

Further, maybe Chandler won't get light rail, but Phoenix and Tempe will continue to expand public transit per the will of their voters

Jeff Lebowski said that.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

Jeff Lebowski said that.

Yeah, but played by Jeff Bridges

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

I guess people should learn to love 2 to 3 hr one way commutes in the future, because without adequate public transit that will be our future....

Only if people are stupid enough to do it.

Live where you work, and that is possible for most people. A 5 mile radius anywhere in the Valley has many nice neighborhoods and many potential employers.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by thinkalot

Only if people are stupid enough to do it.

Live where you work, and that is possible for most people. A 5 mile radius anywhere in the Valley has many nice neighborhoods and many potential employers.

The same people who are pro car/anti-mass transit are also against multifamily housing. So that goes against your point.

Jobs set up where there is critical mass of people, and housing near those jobs is pricy (if density is too low)

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by thinkalot

Only if people are stupid enough to do it.

Live where you work, and that is possible for most people. A 5 mile radius anywhere in the Valley has many nice neighborhoods and many potential employers.

So just sell your house and move every time you get a new job?

[Maroon197]

Originally Posted by thinkalot

Only if people are stupid enough to do it.

Live where you work, and that is possible for most people. A 5 mile radius anywhere in the Valley has many nice neighborhoods and many potential employers.

That’s not how real life works. Many people work in specialized fields and are limited to a handful of locations that offer their job. And even for those who don’t, you’re always limited by who is willing to hire you at the moment. It’s not like picking a restaurant. If you’re married, it’s very unlikely that you and your spouse both work within 5 miles of each other. In a place like phx, you might not work within 25 miles of each other. And then if you have kids, you’re probably at least mildly concerned with finding a good school district, which is going to further limit the search. And all of that is to say nothing of the unexpected layoffs that occur 6 months after you buy your house, the surprise promotion that requires moving to an office on the other side of the valley, or the offer you can’t turn down from a different company 30+ minutes away from your current job. Sure might be nice to have some alternative transportation options just in case...