Arlington ponders buses

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Arlington, population 365,000, holds the distinction of being the largest city in the U.S. without public transportation, according to the American Public Transportation Association in Washington. That could begin changing soon. The Arlington City Council is mulling proposals to go into a partnership with neighboring Fort Worth for buses to ferry commuters between the two cities during rush hour. If the cities can work out the details, Arlington officials hope to begin a six-month trial of the service sometime next year.

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National public-transit usage has jumped 30% since 1995, says Rose Sheridan, vice president of the American Public Transportation Association. But southern cities were designed for cheap gasoline. Urban sprawl here developed around a car-and-freeway system rather than subway and train mass transit.

Arlington residents have voted down a public bus system three times in the last 27 years...

...

When gas prices rise, middle-class commuters in areas that don't have convenient public transportation typically compensate in various ways. They can switch to a more-fuel-efficient vehicle, telecommute, or cut back on luxuries such as restaurants and movies.

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... opposition to public transit has remained intense in Arlington. Some opponents argue the city isn't big enough to justify public transportation, while others worry it would mainly serve to subsidize the poor, attracting a less-affluent population to the city.

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Bill Eastland, a local tax accountant and bus opponent ... describes public transit as "high cost and low efficiency" and worries it would entice a "rougher" demographic to move to Arlington.

Nonetheless, Dallas Area Rapid Transit saw ridership of its rail and bus systems spike upward by 11.6% in two months after hurricanes Katrina and Rita forced gas prices up to $3 a gallon in August 2005, says transit spokesman Morgan Lyons. Ridership has continued to rise along with gasoline prices, increasing 4.7% in fiscal 2005 from 2004 and another 10% in 2006.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118964900293725997.html

[almaty 19]

been to arlington ..a few times..those folks..need mass trnasit..

[Nagishkaw 510]

Maybe they can cut a deal with Ray ' schoolbus ' Nagan.

[almaty 19]

good point....

[Heracles 417]

Maybe they can cut a deal with Ray ' schoolbus ' Nagan.

I am sure they will be available during a catastrophe..

[Jasman0717 9]

Wish we had better mass transit here in SoCal

[Imua 0]

Bill Eastland, a local tax accountant and bus opponent ... describes public transit as "high cost and low efficiency" and worries it would entice a "rougher" demographic to move to Arlington.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118964900293725997.html

Nice way to perpetuate the 'only undsirables use public transit' myth...

I believe it's only America where people feel this way - in Europe and Asia all social classes (at least middle class and below) use transit and there is no stigma. I think only NYC and SF have tthe same mindset.

[Jenn! 918]

I believe it's only America where people feel this way - in Europe and Asia all social classes (at least middle class and below) use transit and there is no stigma. I think only NYC and SF have tthe same mindset.

Here in Boston, the subway is used by everyone, but the busses would be considered "low class", I guess.

[trailmix 77]

Here in Calgary we have a good public transport system bus/light rail transit, no class distinctions that I know of, what a strange strange way to think of public transport - boggles the mind.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I believe it's only America where people feel this way - in Europe and Asia all social classes (at least middle class and below) use transit and there is no stigma. I think only NYC and SF have tthe same mindset.

Here in Boston, the subway is used by everyone, but the busses would be considered "low class", I guess.

In NJ the big money boys prefer the ferry to get to downtown. Their employees use NJ Transit trains. Their employees maids and janitors use the bus.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wish we had better mass transit here in SoCal

I know they're extending the metro Gold Line out into East LA, but the completion date for that is years off. Still have to drive to Sierra Madre Villa to make use of it.