does your city have a 'light rail' system?

[Linflas]

When I was a kid DC had an awesome streetcar system. They shut it down about 3 years before they approved the building of Metro and it was one of the worst decisions made. It actually went to a lot of useful places including places that are not served by the Metro such as Georgetown. One of the really nice things it had was no overhead wires in the city.

 

[bobdelt]

Got the countries most traveled light rail system - Boston - it sucks, its slow, but it works.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: JRich
Unfortunately, Phoenix is now building one that no one will use.

Why would you live in Phoenix?

 

[FoBoT]

the city of kansas city finally passed some light rail something last year (i don't live in the counties that voted on it)

it is going to be a money pit and won't have anything built/working for ten years

it is stupid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City%2C_Missouri#Light_rail

Light rail
Kansas City does not have a subway or light rail system, and several proposals to build one have been rejected by voters in the past. On November 7, 2006, a measure proposing a light rail system was passed with a majority of 53 percent. This measure would see light rail running from the Kansas City Zoo, through the urban core, and out to Kansas City International Airport. There has been some criticism of the funding plan.

 

[yllus]

Toronto has a crappy one that it built instead of extending the subway line. It has five or six stops on it and while it's busy, a subway would have been far preferable.

Scarborough RT (TTC)

 

[Art Vandelay]

Istanbul has the second oldest underground system in the world.

There are also nostalgic trams, modern trams, and a modern underground system.

And of course a bus network that runs daily about 448,000 km on around 468 lines with 7,889 bus-stops :Q

:thumbsup:

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate

The real issue is Houstonians refuse to use public transportation and continue to drive Excursions 45 min. into the city from the burbs' to go to work. The only way they even got that first line built is for the Superbowl - if it wasn't for Football no one would have voted that up. Living in the burbs' I see people prefer to drive 100 feet from McDonalds to the grocery store rather then walk - so public transist is more of a nightmare then a dream for them! lol

the commuter buses from the park and rides are always pretty crowded, from what i've seen.
they're great if you work downtown and don't need your car while you're down there.

the real issue is that white people don't ride buses, other than those commuter lines.

Originally posted by: Oceanas

Originally posted by: ElFenix
it's an expensive trolley that runs in the streets and can make the streetlights change for it (which causes horrendous traffic near the trolley tracks).

Except that it doesn't make all the streetlights change for it. It stops at red lights too (or if it gets too close to another train or too far ahead of schedule).

i thought the one in houston did make the lights change for it. i've never seen it stop at a light before.

That's because the system has to start somewhere. They can't build it all at once. So, you build one segment to prove it works (not well though) and then build onto it. Eventually, in theory, the system will be built out to where it is fairly useful.

it's been more than 3 years since they were given approval by the voters to build out an extensive rail network, but all they've done since then is change plans and cause problems. the current plans might not be legal because they're not the plan that was approved by the voters.

i really can't figure out why they want to run it down richmond when there is a big train right of way on the other side of the southwest freeway.

Originally posted by: aleckz
DC's metro was awesome, very quick and efficient.

i thought the metro was all subway?

 

[NuclearNed]

The "city" where I live is barely past the horse and carriage stage of development. A light rail system would send the natives scampering in fear to the hills.

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
it's an expensive trolley that runs in the streets and can make the streetlights change for it (which causes horrendous traffic near the trolley tracks).

we've got it here in houston.

it was just put in a few years back.

there is only one line.

it really doesn't go anywhere.

i consider it a giant waste of money when i see things like kuala lumpur's system (which is fully automated and does not run in the streets).

According to the news, automobiles like to play chicken with it...and usually lose.

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: paulney
San Jose has one, and the ridership has increased quite significantly in recent years, as they have expanded the line.
Unfortunately due to very expensive land and everyone being up in arms about light rail going through their backyards, it makes a huge loop by using old railway corridors. So, it takes you an hour to get from one point to another, while driving a car would take 15 minutes.

I, personally, used it on quite a few occasions, and sometimes still do, when they declare a 'spare the air' day. But I can't turn it into my daily commute: can't wast 1:15 instead of 15 minutes every day, each way.

LoL.. it's in what.. South San Jose? Come on. Silicon Valley has one of the best traffic systems ever. I've run so many errands during rush hour, driving across the valley from Sunnyvale to Milpitas and back through San Jose into Cupertino, etc... that it would take probably 4 hours trying to do the same job driving up in the East Bay.

The only areas that face significant jams are 237 => 880 North and some pockets of 101 South near the SJ Airport, 880 and 280 intersections. Other than that, rush hour in the South Bay is a JOKE.

The need for public transportation in the south bay is also a joke. Sure it would be nice to have BART extend down here so I can hop on and go home in a jiffy from school, but honestly... who the hell rides the bus? Like old people? I haven't done it since I was in 2nd grade, and I rarely spot busses..

It is not just in South San Jose. Mountain View, Milpitas, Campbel, etc. It is kind of slow though. http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_LRT_MAP.GIF

Well, I would say most of 101 is a mess, they must have some sort of sturpification ray on that highway. I am forced to weave through traffic from Mountain View to Palo Alto at 10AM on Saturday because I want to drive 70!

But yeah, after living through LA traffic for 8 years, South Bay rush hour IS a joke, and I am damn glad about it.

I ride the light rail to downtown SJ sometimes, and anytime I fly out of San Jose airport, wish it went directly to the airport though instead of having to take that stupid bus the last mile. They really should extend it to Milbrae though so you can transfer to BART directly instead of having to take CalTrain from Mountain View to Milbrae. Don't care about the East Bay side.

 

[Jahee]

Docklands, DLR in London UK is good, takes you through to the city and airport from some of the boroughs in the east.

Website

 

[habib89]

yeah, san francisco, we've had it forever and it's both above and below ground.. it goes to many useful places..

 

[ViviTheMage]

the new one here in Minnesota rocks!

 

[zebano]

Originally posted by: redly1
Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Light rail boondogle is in the works

The question is why?

 

[MajorMullet]

They're building a light rail here in Charlotte, NC. Most of the people that I talk to (including myself) don't want it, but hey, they're building it anyway. Budget overruns and the fact that it doesn't go anywhere useful have turned a lot of people off, though it may be better once they start building it out. I think it's supposed to start operating this year.

 

[homercles337]

Oldest subway in the US. Built to get the streetcars off the street.

Botson T

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Got the countries most traveled light rail system - Boston - it sucks, its slow, but it works.

Yep, i HATE the green line. Fortunately i spend most of my time on the red line.

 

[tgx78]

Not sure this one qualify as a 'light rail' system but we have this.

Skytrain Vancouver BC

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: zebano

Originally posted by: redly1
Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Light rail boondogle is in the works

The question is why?

having just had a job interview in the greater IC-CR metropolis, I ask the same thing. There's no traffic there during rush hour according to the locals! Oh well I got a nice rejection from that company today, heh.

Atlanta has one, and I use it to get to the airport, it works excellent for that. Pretty much have to drive everyplace else though. I've used Dallas's in the past to get to sporting events, been meaning to try it to get to DFW one of these days.

 

[imported_Snagle]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: Indolent
the Twin Cities does. Haven't used it though. It's pretty good if you live in the right areas. Would be better if it connected to the suburbs though.

I enjoy it Nice and close to the U, provides an easy way to MoA

I really can't wait for them to being building a new section of it (supposed to go under washington ave near the UofM)

I'm a fan as well. I don't live in the city but I've used it when visiting the U both to go to the MoA and to the Metrodome and it was pretty convenient both times. The city did a good job of integrating it with the bus system too, hopefully they'll continue to expand it.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Oldest subway in the US. Built to get the streetcars off the street.

Botson T

subways are not light rail

Originally posted by: tgx78
Not sure this one qualify as a 'light rail' system but we have this.

Skytrain Vancouver BC

neither are elevateds

those are both proper rapid transit systems.

 

[CptObvious]

There was some talk of putting one in Orlando, but none yet.

A couple months ago I rode the light rail in Baltimore, from the airport to downtown. Some guy tried to beat a light and ran into the rail car in front of us. There was some serious backed up traffic, and I ended up getting out and walking. With FL drivers I imagine this would happen often, so I probably wouldn't use it.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: homercles337
Oldest subway in the US. Built to get the streetcars off the street.

Botson T

subways are not light rail

Originally posted by: tgx78
Not sure this one qualify as a 'light rail' system but we have this.

Skytrain Vancouver BC

neither are elevateds

those are both proper rapid transit systems.

Did you bother with the link?

It was originally built as a tunnel to get streetcar lines off the streets, rather than a rapid transit line.

They are light rails that go above ground in some parts and under in central boston you dope. The rapid lines (red, orange, blue) are VERY different. But then you would have known that if you used my link that you quoted. Good job!

edit: Heres a pic for the dope. Green line...

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: homercles337
Oldest subway in the US. Built to get the streetcars off the street.

Botson T

subways are not light rail

Originally posted by: tgx78
Not sure this one qualify as a 'light rail' system but we have this.

Skytrain Vancouver BC

neither are elevateds

those are both proper rapid transit systems.

Light rail can be run elevated or below grade for parts of their trackage, both of which are more exepnsive than totally at grade but far practical instead of being run over already overloaded city streets.

Edited for clarity.

 

[Slacker]

They're all lame compared to Springfields Monorail.