Re: Brisbane Light Rail,Briztram - questions

[qldspeed-spamisevil@geocities.com (qldspeed)]

On Mon, 08 Mar 1999 22:48:06 +1000, neumannc <neumannc@ozemail.com.au>
wrote:

>qldspeed wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Read this and weep....
>> 
>> "Capital projects: Experience has demonstrated that there is no more
>> expensive way to improve transit than urban rail. Virtually all new
>> rail systems have attracted so few drivers from automobiles that it
>> would have been less expensive to lease each a new automobile every
>> two years. In spending more than necessary to implement urban rail,
>> opportunities for more effective improvement are forgone, to the
>> detriment of the greater number of new riders who would be served. Too
>> often urban rail is driven by a desire to become a "world class city,"
>> a civic pride that manifests itself in construction of publicly
>> financed convention centers, domed stadia and urban rail. To put it in
>> Freudian terms, urban rail in America has more to do with
>> "infrastructure envy" than transportation. "
>> 
>> from:
>> http://www.publicpurpose.com/21stcent.htm
>> 
>> This is exactly what Brisbane has been sucked into.
>
>Oh dear! Here is someone who thinks that extreme right wing American
>paid lobbyists have credibility.  Consider the following points:
>

For the record here's what 'publicpurpose' had to say....

With respect, Rob's comments below are laughable --- no traffic
congestion relief from light rail anywhere and little improvement in
transit ridership.

As regards "right wing think tanks," etc., it is the highest
compliment for a consultant or academic for their enemies to have to
resort to the age old strategy of attacking the messenger. It is a
good indication that the data stands on its own.

Best regards,
Wendell Cox

>> No, what's said on those sites *is* the light rail myth. They are generally
>> pro- automobile ultra right wing think tanks that have light rail in their
>> sights because it has been so successful at attracting people onto public
>> transport. They like to peddle all sorts of alternatives to light rail, such
>> as monorails and Personal Rapid Transit, because these modes have much lower
>> proven success rates.
>>
>>
>> Rob



>Chris