[quote=briansd1]The problem with rail in America is riders. We need to change urban planning first before rail is viable. In Europe, after WWII, people already lived in dense urban centers so when they built the rail networks, the customers were already eagerly awaiting.
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I disagree with this. In Atlanta, when they put in MARTA – development clustered around the ends. Gwinett county refused to have a MARTA line – preferring freeways. My coworkers were really annoyed by that. It made it much less convenient to get to the airport. When I was looking for rentals I specifically looked for proximity to a MARTA rail line.
I lived outside of Philly in Glenside, PA – town centers formed around train stops of SEPTA. These were very small towns, that changed and grew when the train went in. I had many neighbors that commuted daily to center city – family’s with ONE car, which stayed garaged. On a personal note – I enjoyed that I could roll a suitcase 2 blocks to the station – and take the train to the airport… VERY convenient.
People thought that the trolley would just be used for tourism. I’m old – I remember the debates and scoffing prior to it’s start in 1981… and I remember the SHOCK by the people who skoffed (and the planners) when it was used by commuters from day one – people from the southbay using it to get to downton jobs. No one expected full trains from the first day.
