More Hippy Dippy Communist Stuff: Public Transit Use In U.S. Is At a 57-Year High

[boutons_deux]

More Americans used public transit last year than in any year since 1956, according to a new report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Americans took 10.7 billion trips on subways, streetcars, buses and other forms of public transportation in 2013, according to the report, making last year the eighth year in a row with more than 10 billion trips taken on public transportation. The report found that public transit ridership in the U.S. has jumped 37.2 percent since 1995, an increase that’s outpaced population growth and vehicle miles traveled.

The last time public transit ridership was at an all-time high was 2008, when gas prices ed in the U.S., reaching $4 and $5 per gallon in some places. In 2013, however, gas prices as a whole were lower, a fact the group says means that public transit isn’t soley reliant on transportation costs.

“Now gas is averaging well under $4 a gallon, the economy is coming back and people are riding transit in record numbers,” Michael Melaniphy, president of APTA told the New York Times. “We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how people are moving about their communities.”

The group said in a release that part of the reason for the e in public transit usage was the economic recovery of some cities — with more people employed, there are more people relying on public transit to get to work every day. And, Melaniphy said, the inverse is true as well: cities that invest in public transit often see shrinking unemployment rates, because people have access to job opportunities that may have been off-limits before.

Americans aren’t just taking public transit more often, however. They’re also driving less, according to a 2013 report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The report found that the amount of miles driven per person has dropped in 46 states since 2007, with Washington, D.C. residents driving the least and young people across the country driving less than older generations.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/201...ship-increase/

[boutons_deux]

Obama reversed Tom Delay's ban on Houston Light Rail

In 2003, voters in the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority's (HCMTA) service area approved a referendum on the expansion of light rail. Tom Delay intervened, and overrode the voters' choice. Light rail expansion in Houston was blocked by the George W Bush administration for five years.

Suddenly, in 2009, the ban was lifted by the President's new FTA. Every year, the FTA has sent the HCMTA at least $150 million for light rail expansion. On December 20, 2013, the first new line, Northline-Houston Community College, went into service. This year, two more light rail lines will open.

The suburbanites are complaining because HCMTA is concentrating on the democratic-majority Houston center city. They want commuter light rail to their outlying areas but keep electing republicans who are adamantly opposed to rail expansion. Somehow Houston suburbanites have not made the connection between whom they vote for and what kind of transportation they get.

HCMTA recently announced that additional cars have been added to Northline (named after a 1950's shopping mall) because passenger boardings have exceeded forecasts. HCMTA removes motor vehicle lanes and allocates them to rail. Unlike other new light rail systems, HCMTA is operating the lines as limited-stop streetcars, which is unique in the modern US. Northline has cut the travel time in half from the 15 Fulton Bus which it replaced. I talked to many passengers, and every person I talked to is thrilled about the huge improvement in service. The new line runs every 12 minutes, seven days a week. I recently took a Sunday photographic stroll on the line and uploaded the video to You Tube.

None of this much-needed expansion would have been possible without President Obama. Thanks to federal help, and the backing of Democratic Mayor Annise Parker, these lines are going in fast.

On the Northline, it took less that 3 years from the original groundbreaking to the start of service. Houston, which was the least-likely city to embark on electric rail transit 15 years ago, has an aggressive rail transit program underway. Elections do make a difference.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/0...ton-Light-Rail

aka: VRWC/ALEC/Repug War on Public Transport and Infrastructure. Texans are ing stupid

[boutons_deux]

One Photo which says everything

Chinese bullet trains in yard:



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/0...g?detail=email

[vy65]

That sure doesn't look photoshopped

[vy65]

They're so advanced ...

[ChumpDumper]

I think more people are just poorer.

Is this a good thing, boutons?

[Jacob1983]

Why not get some of that in Collin County? You have to drive everywhere to get everywhere. Can't walk or bike to anywhere. It's pathetic. And yes, public transportation is important and a must. I don't give a if haters are like "hahaha libertarian ing about public transportation". I have never registered with the libertarian party. I consider myself an apathetic independent.

[tlongII]

And yet most public transportation agencies around the country are hemorrhaging money. Why is that?

[CosmicCowboy]

The only way public transportation survives in San Antonio is with a perpetual regressive tax.

[boutons_deux]

High-speed rail in China


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_China

[boutons_deux]

I think more people are just poorer.

Is this a good thing, boutons?

what people? American people, yes more American people are poor as the UCA/1% suck down the wealth and reduce opportunities for th 99% to earn a decent living.

[boutons_deux]

The USA has no national energy policy (other than head's "invade Iraq for oil") nor national transportation agency.

When the bogus "free market" is allowed exclusively to provide the "best solution", it's always to enrich itself and everybody else.

As a result, USA has no high speed rail network, even in the several regions where it makes enormous, economic, environmental sense. The airlines, BigOil, car mfrs, aka the "free market" cartel, make sure they provide the only transportation.

[CosmicCowboy]

China's high speed rail still loses money. The political motivation for the rail system was to enrich the oligarchy by increasing the real estate value of the "secondary cities" they created that are served by the system.

[TeyshaBlue]

China's high speed rail still loses money. The political motivation for the rail system was to enrich the oligarchy by increasing the real estate value of the "secondary cities" they created that are served by the system.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin...-empty-houses/
You mean the empty, ghost cities?

Yeah, China is a great role model. I can see why boutons loves them so.

[boutons_deux]

China's high speed rail still loses money. The political motivation for the rail system was to enrich the oligarchy by increasing the real estate value of the "secondary cities" they created that are served by the system.

If the HSR rail system keeps 100Ms of Chinese from buying cars and burning $100Bs in gasoline per year, and then there is the savings of freight by rail rather than road, it a huge success for the country.

[boutons_deux]

I think more people are just poorer.

Is this a good thing, boutons?

public transportation enables (poor) people access to jobs. eg, allowing them to live in cheaper housing and commute to city centers where housing is too high for them but pay is better.

In USA, poor people without cars can spends hours/day getting to/from work on ty public transportation. And some jobs are simply out of reach without a car.

[ChumpDumper]

I agree, I'm just asking whether the increase in use is because workers are poorer.

[boutons_deux]

I agree, I'm just asking whether the increase in use is because workers are poorer.

no doubt, but even in wealthy cities like NY, Paris, London, Chicago, all classes ride the metro and the regional light rail.

In a sun-belt suburb town like SA, the metro/regional transport is so ty or non-existent, only the car-less really poor are forced to use it.

[ChumpDumper]

no doubt, but even in wealthy cities like NY, Paris, London, Chicago, all classes ride the metro and the regional light rail.

In a sun-belt suburb town like SA, the metro/regional transport is so ty or non-existent, only the car-less really poor are forced to use it.

Not enough density tbh.

[boutons_deux]

Not enough density tbh.

yep, sun belt cities are enslaved to the (single rider) automobile.

[ChumpDumper]

yep, sun belt cities are enslaved to the (single rider) automobile.

Relatively cheap land, rather.

[Wild Cobra]

More Americans used public transit last year than in any year since 1956, according to a new report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Americans took 10.7 billion trips on subways, streetcars, buses and other forms of public transportation in 2013, according to the report, making last year the eighth year in a row with more than 10 billion trips taken on public transportation. The report found that public transit ridership in the U.S. has jumped 37.2 percent since 1995, an increase that’s outpaced population growth and vehicle miles traveled.

The last time public transit ridership was at an all-time high was 2008, when gas prices ed in the U.S., reaching $4 and $5 per gallon in some places. In 2013, however, gas prices as a whole were lower, a fact the group says means that public transit isn’t soley reliant on transportation costs.

“Now gas is averaging well under $4 a gallon, the economy is coming back and people are riding transit in record numbers,” Michael Melaniphy, president of APTA told the New York Times. “We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how people are moving about their communities.”

The group said in a release that part of the reason for the e in public transit usage was the economic recovery of some cities — with more people employed, there are more people relying on public transit to get to work every day. And, Melaniphy said, the inverse is true as well: cities that invest in public transit often see shrinking unemployment rates, because people have access to job opportunities that may have been off-limits before.

Americans aren’t just taking public transit more often, however. They’re also driving less, according to a 2013 report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The report found that the amount of miles driven per person has dropped in 46 states since 2007, with Washington, D.C. residents driving the least and young people across the country driving less than older generations.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/201...ship-increase/

What a stupid article. It doesn't accurately represent what I see.

When people were hit hard in 2007/2008, many could afford to keep car insurance, lost cars, etc. If you own a car and maintain insurance on it, it is cheaper to drive normally than pay for public transportation, unless you have no choice but to pay high parking fees in downtown areas.

People aren't choosing to use public transportation, they are being forced into it in most places that are gaining numbers.

We had a survey at work. Probably part of the same thing this information. I put on it I drive my own vehicle. Reason was that that it is cheaper. I only get about 17 MPG, but it's cheaper than buying a a monthly pass for $100 a month, I don't have to walk in the whether, and public transportation would take me about an hour instead of 20-25 minutes.

I can see it being cheaper on the east coast, but not where I live. Only if a person is factoring in paying for a car and car insurance too.

http://trimet.org/fares/index.htm#farechart

[Wild Cobra]

That sure doesn't look photoshopped

Yep.

I don't see no dead bird damage on them.

[boutons_deux]

Relatively cheap land, rather.

From what I see on google maps, SA suburban/exurban types in new housing tracts love two story ticky tacky beige houses on iddy biddy lots with iddy biddy front and back yards, and minimum regulatory separation between houses.

[Wild Cobra]

I think more people are just poorer.

Is this a good thing, boutons?

I completely agree. I see people who have defaulted on car payments and cannot pay car insurance, still.