What A Real Transit Rail System Looks Like: The Station

[Metro Jacksonville]

What A Real Transit Rail System Looks Like: The Station



Since the decline and almost total destruction of the American Passenger Rail Network in the 70s and the demolition and dismemberment of the interurbans and streetcars in almost every city across the continent during the 40's and 50's the memory and easy familiarity with an interlinked network of passenger rail systems has almost completely faded.  In fact, for most Americans, the only images they have of passenger rail systems, and subways in particular, are Amtrak, the New York Metro, the San Francisco BART, and maybe some of the system in Chicago.

Not a very inspiring bunch.

However, most of the rest of the developed countries have quite wonderful passenger rail networks. They are clean, efficient, cheap, run on time, have as many as 20 or even 25 trains an hour (one every three minutes) during peak periods, and everybody from all income levels uses them. This is not a utopian fantasy, it is normal life for most people -- which they take for granted along with other modern conveniences like clean running water and working sewage systems.

Join Nate Lewis, economist and urban theorist as we have a look at some of the passenger rail elements and components of the rest of the world, starting with a photo essay of The Stations.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-aug-what-a-real-transit-rail-system-looks-like-the-station

[tufsu1]

this is a good article...although I wonder why the author chose to highlight one of the worst stations on DC's Metro line....several of the suburban stations have now have adjacent TOD development....and the urban stations often have attached retail (even department stores)

[stephendare]

I think in order to show the contrasts.

[archiphreak]

Ha!  The Vienna Station is my old station.  I used to live about 1 mile from there just off Lee Highway.  There was a walking trail that went behind my townhome development straight to the metro.  So, this is actually a little misleading.  If you live there and know where you are there are a number of things relatively close by (within say 1 mile).  Not the most comfortable walking distance in the winter, but not out of the question.
This is a great article though.  You've really highlighted the difference between western and eastern thinking about development and mass transit.  The thinking in America is that transit has to be set apart, outside the "hustle and bustle" of commerce.  We need a radical change in this kind of thinking.  As I'm sure all will agree here, transit needs to be an integral part of our urban environment, woven into our daily lives.

[Traveller]

The Vienna Metro station is the last station on the Orange line.  It is meant to be a park & ride station for commuters from Fairfax, Centreville, Gainesville, etc. so those individuals don't drive all the way into the District.  Same for Franconia/Springfield, New Carollton, Shady Grove, etc.  tufsu1 is correct in that many of the stations closer to town have enormous TOD's attached to them (e.g., Ballston, Pentagon City).  Problem is those neighborhoods are not cheap to live in.

Unrelated question: is it physically possible to build underground rail in Florida?

[thelakelander]

Miami's old Metrorail expansion plans, from a few years ago, included subway segments and stations under their downtown.  Unfortunately, they ended up using a chuck of that money for current operations and now they don't have the funds to the the massive expansion they promised taxpayers down there.

[tufsu1]

I personally think that above-ground rail is better for a few reasons:

1. It is far cheaper to build, even when elevated (like Miami's system)
2. It allows people to see the area around them....which may be very helpful for TOD

[Doctor_K]

I'm particularly fond of this poignant bit:

A Vibrant City without a train is impossible, because you will need lots and lots of parking--and the parking destroys the density and vibrancy.

Does that hit close enough to home, Jacksonville??

[Garden guy]

it's going to be years and years...sorry but unless something major happens to the leaders of this area a transit system is out of the picture. our leaders can't even get over a muslim being on a city board...how are they going to grasp the idea of a better transit system...ill never see it in my lifetime..i hope...but i seriously doubt it...it was so nice in europe to get around...it made traveling pleasurable.

[stephendare]

it's going to be years and years...sorry but unless something major happens to the leaders of this area a transit system is out of the picture. our leaders can't even get over a muslim being on a city board...how are they going to grasp the idea of a better transit system...ill never see it in my lifetime..i hope...but i seriously doubt it...it was so nice in europe to get around...it made traveling pleasurable.

Because, Garden guy, you and us and the rest of the like minded people who are all out in front of these issues are the new leaders of this area.

There are enough of us that are sick of The Stupid, and if we all work together, we can move mountains.

[JeffreyS]

Great is just not what we strive for in America anymore. Great is a waste of taxpayer money.  Great takes longer than a stucco strip mall to construct.  So many Americans do not want the Government to do great things they don't want the Government to do anything at all.  This is the attitude we have to change the Dagny Taggart's should build great engines of commerce the Government should build a great quality of life environment.

[finehoe]

Socialism.

[stephendare]

Great is just not what we strive for in America anymore. Great is a waste of taxpayer money.  Great takes longer than a stucco strip mall to construct.  So many Americans do not want the Government to do great things they don't want the Government to do anything at all.  This is the attitude we have to change the Dagny Taggart's should build great engines of commerce the Government should build a great quality of life environment.

That is what its there for!

Thanks Jeffrey!

I am so sick of mediocre, cheap, easily discarded.

We have the promise of greatness in us, and we design and build for mall zombies in subarus.

[tufsu1]

Great is just not what we strive for in America anymore. Great is a waste of taxpayer money.  Great takes longer than a stucco strip mall to construct.  So many Americans do not want the Government to do great things they don't want the Government to do anything at all.  This is the attitude we have to change the Dagny Taggart's should build great engines of commerce the Government should build a great quality of life environment.

+100

[thelakelander]

it's going to be years and years...

We'll be electing a new mayor less than a year.  Let's make it count and it might not take decades to flip the apple cart.