Comments on: Highways and Rapid Transit: Should They Go Together? http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: fpteditors http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/comment-page-1/#comment-118051 fpteditors Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:41:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=46171#comment-118051 This is what happens when you try to plan on a tilted playing field. Instead of trying to work with the auto, we need to stop subsidizing it and as it gradually unwinds, gradually create the replacements as locations change to match the new society. Forcing rail into an auto-dominated society is a losing proposition and opponents will rightly point out that it doesn't work. You have spent all you political capital for nothing. This is what happens when you try to plan on a tilted playing field. Instead of trying to work with the auto, we need to stop subsidizing it and as it gradually unwinds, gradually create the replacements as locations change to match the new society. Forcing rail into an auto-dominated society is a losing proposition and opponents will rightly point out that it doesn’t work. You have spent all you political capital for nothing.

]]> By: Lucy http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/comment-page-1/#comment-117921 Lucy Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:18:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=46171#comment-117921 The best transit route is the one that can get built. Insisting on perfection prevents action. The best transit route is the one that can get built. Insisting on perfection prevents action.

]]> By: BikingViking http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/comment-page-1/#comment-117891 BikingViking Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:46:16 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=46171#comment-117891 What's interesting about this is that many of the downtowns in the US's smaller cities have been bisected by these interstate right of ways already. So when you examine places like Worcester MA; I 290 which ripped the city apart, would make a good rail right of way to potentially put a city back together. Also since most of the interstates continue out into the heart of suburbs, and often directly to the exurban malls, High density TOD becomes possible on large commercial lots (the constant redevelopment of malls mean they could easily become mixed use). I think people who see an issue with Interstate highways as mass transit right of ways are only considering the bigger cities in the US. It's not a one size fit's all solution, but it's a great solution for some. What’s interesting about this is that many of the downtowns in the US’s smaller cities have been bisected by these interstate right of ways already. So when you examine places like Worcester MA; I 290 which ripped the city apart, would make a good rail right of way to potentially put a city back together.

Also since most of the interstates continue out into the heart of suburbs, and often directly to the exurban malls, High density TOD becomes possible on large commercial lots (the constant redevelopment of malls mean they could easily become mixed use).

I think people who see an issue with Interstate highways as mass transit right of ways are only considering the bigger cities in the US. It’s not a one size fit’s all solution, but it’s a great solution for some.

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