The Oil Drum

81 comments on DrumBeat: March 11, 2007

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BrianT on March 11, 2007 - 9:38am

Alan: The guy is using the example of a town that has the population density of Manhattan. Obviously population density is not the only factor for transit use, but how many locales in the USA have the density of Manhattan? This example does not show evidence that transit is workable in sparsely populated areas in the USA (IMO).

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AlanfromBigEasy on March 11, 2007 - 10:29am

The discussion last week was about the low density interurbans connecting small towns & villages in Iowa, Indiana and Ohio.

Here is at the other end of the spectrum. Slightly less than Manhatten population densities but 3 to 4x the ridership of Manhatten/NYC. We Americans may think that NYC is the "ultimate" Urban Rail density. Mr. Demery shows that Manhatten and the Greater NYC area is not even close to what "could be". Even Manhatten could use significantly less oil based transportation (to put a PO spin on it).

That is a worthwhile point to make IMO. EVERY city in the US could use less oil

My two highest Urban Rail priorities in the US are the 2nd Avenue subway in NYC and extending the LA Red Line subway. But there are several more Urban Rail projects well worth doing in NYC. Another tunnel under the Hudson "Ocean", connecting Grand Central & Penn Central stations, streetcar feeders, etc.

Best Hopes,

Alan

BTW, Moscow has trains every two minutes at rush hour.

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phineas gage on March 11, 2007 - 8:49pm

For what it is worth, even most smaller cities in Ohio in the range of 10,000 people had elctrified street cars. The density of these small cities was around 5 to 10 housing units per acre. Most of the old rails were torn up for metal during WWII, but many small Ohio cities still have visible street car rails on their streets. I've wondered how much work it would take to get them up to usable condition.

Of course much of Ohio was settled based on water transport- rivers and man-made canals, and last time I checked most the rivers and canals were still there!