Saturday, January 21, 2006

Great cities to live in are supported by great transit systems. These transit systems are centered on extensive netwoks of light-rail and subway lines rather than buses. These notions are supported by a recent Post-Gazette article that outlines increases gained in Port Authority ridership following sustained higher gasoline prices.

The gasoline prices, the article concludes, have lead to increased transit ridership. More, rail ridership in Pittsburgh and elsewhere had an increase more than twice that of transit ridership over-all (which means buses had an even smaller percentage increase).

This reaffirms two of my already held notions.

1. Imposing gasoline tax's (as roadway user fees rather than subsidies) will serve to boost transit ridership (and thus help clean the air and slow co2 emmissions that cause global warming).

2. Those who would otherwise drive much prefer rail over buses.

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