SF Bay Area Public transit adjusts to surge in ridership

[marmar]

cross posted from the public transit/smart growth forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=398


Public transit adjusts to surge in ridership
By Erik N. Nelson
Oakland Tribune, Denis Cuff
Contra Costa Times

Article Launched: 05/15/2008 12:32:07 PM PDT


Traffic congestion and air pollution have long spurred transportation officials and environmental advocates to urge, cajole and beg commuters to switch to public transit. Still, the vast majority of Bay Area commuters wouldn't budge from behind the wheel.

As gasoline prices climb past $4 a gallon, however, commuters are moving to public transportation in huge numbers, breaking records on BART, commuter trains and transbay bus routes.

Whereas public transportation used to be equal to the task of transporting one in 10 of the Bay Area's commuters, evolving into a major rival of solo driving is proving to be as painful for commuters as it is delightful for public transit advocates.

Parking at many BART and train stations is filling up earlier and earlier. Seating is becoming a luxury on more peak-hour trains and buses, and transit officials are wondering how to increase service at a time when state and local budgets are strapped. The economy is on edge and filling buses' diesel tanks has never been more expensive.

"Just getting 15 miles per gallon from here to Santa Clara was getting to be too much," said Brian Heidl, a mechanical engineer, as he waited for the 6:42 a.m. Altamont Commuter Express train in Livermore on Wednesday.

"I was practically paying $400 a month just in gas," Heidl said, to keep his 1987 Ford Ranger pickup making the 60-mile trip along some of the area's most congested freeway segments, on Interstates 580 and

Now, he pays about $225 for his monthly ACE ticket "and I get to sleep the whole way and not have to worry about the traffic." ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_9271039?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com

[BlooInBloo]

1. Gas prices are bound to lead to a new wave of urban planning sooner or later.

[EFerrari]

2. One new plan is to start charging students higher rates.

Why do these @ssholes always go for the dumbest solution?

[BlooInBloo]

6. Heh - my FAVORITE quote of EVAH:

Americans can always be counted upon to do the right thing, but only after they've exhausted every other alternative.

-Churchill


:rofl:

It's just the kind of people our country has.

[EFerrari]

9. Oh, geeze.

lol

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. I'm lucky -- $81/month for a Metrocard in NYC.

[marmar]

5. Unlimited use Metrocard? That's a good deal.....

n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Yep, unlimited, 24/7.

[marmar]

10. Whenever I visit the Apple, I get a weeklong unlimited use Metrocard and wear it out....

..... It's one of the great transit bargains around.

[BlooInBloo]

12. Bus passes RULE. Various companies out here provide them free to employees...

But last time I checked prices, they were $54 in Seattle.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

13. Actually, Metrocard applies to subways AND buses.

:D

[BlooInBloo]

14. Like a Seattle person knows anything about subways. :P

[Starbucks Anarchist]

15. Damn elitists and your $5 coffee.

:P

[BlooInBloo]

16. What's YOURS - $12?

ZING!

:)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

17. You should see our rents!

[BlooInBloo]

20. (dripping innocence) What - you don't pay the $750 for a 700 sq ft 1 bdr 6 blocks from downtown?

EDIT: The worst I've seen is when I visited Stanford in the 90s. I stayed in a 3 bdr with six students, each paying 1600/month. That was crazy.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

21. Studio less than 200 square feet, about $900, not in Manhattan.

;)

[BlooInBloo]

22. zoinks!

[nichomachus]

4. This is great news for the five or six urban areas in the US that actually have public transit

[RockaFowler]

8. You got that right

Florida is the worst area for Public Transportation. There is a Tri-Rail service (from Miami Dade to Palm Beach County only) and it has increased ridership over 50%.

[Finishline42]

18. Dept of Trans under Bush

Went from 48 projects for new/expanded mass transportation slated for funding in 2001 to 17 projects in 2007. All the time both ridership and the price of gas were increasing.

Had some neocon lawyer in change - moved funding to the latest idea - 'Congestion Pricing' - most would call them tolls. If you have to ask the price - you can't afford them!

[nichomachus]

23. The Big Dig

In Boston, they spent $14 billion on the Big Dig to smooth traffic through the city. Now, they're thinking of putting in tolls on the bridge out of the city. Yeah, that will ease congestion.

[NMDemDist2]

11. I loved BART when I lived in the east Bay and worked in the City n/t

[shanti]

19. my monthly pass is subsidized

by my employer - $20 a month! can't beat that!