Resources For More Information
Naturally, there is much more to learn about rail transit, and public transit in general, than can possibly be shown on this webpage alone. The Resources page has been compiled with links to a variety of additional articles, handbooks, and resources for the curious reader.
Case Studies
A brief series of case studies on different streetcar and light rail systems from around the US, followed by a write up of the characteristics which typify successful (and unsuccessful) rail transit systems.
References
Where appropriate, this webpage uses parenthetical referencing in the Turabian style. The References page is an exhaustive list of all cited sources, both for information and images, used on this website. However, articles and handbooks listed on the Resources page are not cited on the References page (unless otherwise referenced on the webpage), as this would be redundant.
Case Studies
A brief series of case studies on different streetcar and light rail systems from around the US, followed by a write up of the characteristics which typify successful (and unsuccessful) rail transit systems.
References
Where appropriate, this webpage uses parenthetical referencing in the Turabian style. The References page is an exhaustive list of all cited sources, both for information and images, used on this website. However, articles and handbooks listed on the Resources page are not cited on the References page (unless otherwise referenced on the webpage), as this would be redundant.
Public Transit in the Recent News
Public Transit Is Worth Way More to a City Than You Might Think
The Atlantic Cities article by Eric Jaffe (August 14, 2013)
"A new report demonstrates the hidden economic values of transit could be worth anywhere from $1.5 million to $1.8 billion a year, depending on the size of the city. And the bigger the city, they find, the bigger the agglomeration benefit of expanding transit. Simply put, city officials now have a much stronger argument for using taxpayer money to improve their public transportation service."
The Surprising Key to Making Transit-oriented Development Work
The Atlantic Cities article by Eric Jaffe (September 24, 2013)
"Every dollar spent building Cleveland's HealthLine BRT system, for instance, generated $114 in transit-oriented development."
Andrew Aiello- Southbank Shuttle: Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
Video on Vimeo of speach by Andrew Aiello (December 3, 2013)
An excellent overview of the logic of the design of Kentucky's South Bank Shuttle.
Neglected Cities Push Certain Transit Because Regional Agencies Won't
Blog article at the Overhead Wire (December 18. 2013).
This is an interesting post about some of the conflicts that arise when regional transit authorities run transit projects for cities, but have boards that promote suburban styles of development. For this reason, many cities are taking on transit projects themselves, instead of relying on regional agencies, like SORTA.
I-Team: Despite Criticism, Data Shows Most Crashes Not Caused by Streetcars
Article by Jason Law (February 24, 2014)
"In most cases, the I-Team found the streetcar did not cause crashes. Often, people and vehicles would run or drive into the train."
Cincinnati Enquirer Series "Moving Cincinnati"
Reported and written by Julie Zimmerman, a member of The Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board. The four-part series has advocated for better public transportation in the Cincinnati region.
1. Get the Region Onboard New Public Transit Plan (February 2, 2014)
"The benefits of improving mass transit in the region, from reduced congestion on roads to better health outcomes to attracting young workers who prefer alternatives to driving."
2. Region Needs to Step Up on Mass Transit (February 16, 2014)
"The business benefits of better public transportation, which allows lower-income workers a cheaper, more predictable way of getting to work and also attracts higher-income workers who have lived in other cities with good transit."
3. Transit Maps For the Future (March 2, 2014)
"A look at six concrete proposals for improved public transportation in the region, from the 2002 Metro Moves plan to bus rapid transit to regional rail connecting Cincinnati and Dayton to upgrades of the existing bus system."
4. How to Fund Better Regional Mass Transit (March 16, 2014)
"If the region wants to capitalize on the trend toward public transportation and encourage everything from economic growth to improved health, it needs to start organizing now. Upgrading the current system will take planning, time, commitment and money, and figuring out how to fund it may be the biggest challenge of all."
The Atlantic Cities article by Eric Jaffe (August 14, 2013)
"A new report demonstrates the hidden economic values of transit could be worth anywhere from $1.5 million to $1.8 billion a year, depending on the size of the city. And the bigger the city, they find, the bigger the agglomeration benefit of expanding transit. Simply put, city officials now have a much stronger argument for using taxpayer money to improve their public transportation service."
The Surprising Key to Making Transit-oriented Development Work
The Atlantic Cities article by Eric Jaffe (September 24, 2013)
"Every dollar spent building Cleveland's HealthLine BRT system, for instance, generated $114 in transit-oriented development."
Andrew Aiello- Southbank Shuttle: Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
Video on Vimeo of speach by Andrew Aiello (December 3, 2013)
An excellent overview of the logic of the design of Kentucky's South Bank Shuttle.
Neglected Cities Push Certain Transit Because Regional Agencies Won't
Blog article at the Overhead Wire (December 18. 2013).
This is an interesting post about some of the conflicts that arise when regional transit authorities run transit projects for cities, but have boards that promote suburban styles of development. For this reason, many cities are taking on transit projects themselves, instead of relying on regional agencies, like SORTA.
I-Team: Despite Criticism, Data Shows Most Crashes Not Caused by Streetcars
Article by Jason Law (February 24, 2014)
"In most cases, the I-Team found the streetcar did not cause crashes. Often, people and vehicles would run or drive into the train."
Cincinnati Enquirer Series "Moving Cincinnati"
Reported and written by Julie Zimmerman, a member of The Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board. The four-part series has advocated for better public transportation in the Cincinnati region.
1. Get the Region Onboard New Public Transit Plan (February 2, 2014)
"The benefits of improving mass transit in the region, from reduced congestion on roads to better health outcomes to attracting young workers who prefer alternatives to driving."
2. Region Needs to Step Up on Mass Transit (February 16, 2014)
"The business benefits of better public transportation, which allows lower-income workers a cheaper, more predictable way of getting to work and also attracts higher-income workers who have lived in other cities with good transit."
3. Transit Maps For the Future (March 2, 2014)
"A look at six concrete proposals for improved public transportation in the region, from the 2002 Metro Moves plan to bus rapid transit to regional rail connecting Cincinnati and Dayton to upgrades of the existing bus system."
4. How to Fund Better Regional Mass Transit (March 16, 2014)
"If the region wants to capitalize on the trend toward public transportation and encourage everything from economic growth to improved health, it needs to start organizing now. Upgrading the current system will take planning, time, commitment and money, and figuring out how to fund it may be the biggest challenge of all."
Handbooks on Public Transit
A book by Lewis Lesley (2011)
Although not available online, Lewis Lesley has compiled one of the few handbooks covering the development of light rail systems that's also written mostly in layman's terms.
The Innovative DOT: A Handbook of Policy and Practice, Second Edition
A handbook by Smart Growth America and the State Smart Transportation Initiative (2014)
A comprehensive guide for those in the public transit industry who are seeking to fulfill ambitious goals in an environment of generally dwindeling resources.
Thinking Outside the Farebox: Creative Approaches to Financing Transit Projects
A handbook by Transportation for America (2012)
An excellent overview to how public transit projects are financed at the federal, state, and local levels. Contains information on both traditional and innovative approaches to finance.
Urban Transit: Operations, Planning, and Economics (2005)
A textbook by Vukan R. Vuchic.
A comprehensive, multimodal overview of all things transportation engineering. Not for light reading.
An Academic Article on Cincinnati's Streetcar
“Projecting the Impacts of
a Proposed Streetcar System on the Urban Core Land Redevelopment: The
Case of Cincinnati, Ohio”
Cities article by Elad Mokadi, Diana Mitsova, and Xinhao Wang (Available online August 23, 2013)
A recent academic article by Elad Mokadi, Diana Mitsova, and Xinhao Wang on the Cincinnati streetcar used geographic information systems (GIS) software to simulate how land will develop in downtown Cincinnati based on three different scenarios: a no-build scenario in which a streetcar is not built, a 'supporter' build scenario in which the streetcar is built and is a successful economic catalyst, and an 'opponent' scenario in which the streetcar is built but fails to have a meaningful economic impact. These models were created and their results were analyzed. Interestingly, the authors conclude that both streetcar supporters and opponents are likely exaggerating their cases; the streetcar will induce modest development in Cincinnati’s downtown (mostly for commercial properties), with the caveat that development is projected to be limited to areas within one block of the lines.
Cities article by Elad Mokadi, Diana Mitsova, and Xinhao Wang (Available online August 23, 2013)
A recent academic article by Elad Mokadi, Diana Mitsova, and Xinhao Wang on the Cincinnati streetcar used geographic information systems (GIS) software to simulate how land will develop in downtown Cincinnati based on three different scenarios: a no-build scenario in which a streetcar is not built, a 'supporter' build scenario in which the streetcar is built and is a successful economic catalyst, and an 'opponent' scenario in which the streetcar is built but fails to have a meaningful economic impact. These models were created and their results were analyzed. Interestingly, the authors conclude that both streetcar supporters and opponents are likely exaggerating their cases; the streetcar will induce modest development in Cincinnati’s downtown (mostly for commercial properties), with the caveat that development is projected to be limited to areas within one block of the lines.
Some Arguments Against Public Transit
Why People Don't Use Mass Transit
An article by Steven Dutch (Last modified June 2, 2010)
"Most advocates of mass transit dismiss drivers as selfish, short-sighted and unconcerned about the environment instead of asking whether mass transit itself is to blame for its own problems."
The Streetcar Swindle
Reason article by Samuel L. Scheib (2012)
"Because the urban circulator is not tailored to the needs of modern city dwellers who use mass transit to get around, there is no natural constituency to ride them. The result: Many communities get stuck with an eternal loop of empty, expensive white elephants."
An article by Steven Dutch (Last modified June 2, 2010)
"Most advocates of mass transit dismiss drivers as selfish, short-sighted and unconcerned about the environment instead of asking whether mass transit itself is to blame for its own problems."
The Streetcar Swindle
Reason article by Samuel L. Scheib (2012)
"Because the urban circulator is not tailored to the needs of modern city dwellers who use mass transit to get around, there is no natural constituency to ride them. The result: Many communities get stuck with an eternal loop of empty, expensive white elephants."