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Ten myths about US urban rail systems

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  • Rubin, Thomas A.
  • Moore II, James E.
  • Lee, Shin

Abstract

The proponents of rail transit have promulgated a set of stock arguments to help convince officials and the electorate that rail transit is a necessary component of a contemporary urban transportation system. These myths have gradually bored their way into conventional wisdom. We examine and dispel the following rail myths: (1) rail is cost-effective, (2) rail is the people's choice, (3) rail is fast transit, (4) rail is high capacity transit, (5) rail construction provides jobs, (6) rail promotes superior urban form, (7) rail will be paid for with non-local funds that cannot be used for other purposes, (8) rail will attract new riders to transit, (9) rail will decongest roads, and (10) there are no alternatives to rail.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubin, Thomas A. & Moore II, James E. & Lee, Shin, 1999. "Ten myths about US urban rail systems," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 57-73, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:6:y:1999:i:1:p:57-73
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    Cited by:

    1. Cao, Xinyu (Jason) & Porter-Nelson, Dean, 2016. "Real estate development in anticipation of the Green Line light rail transit in St. Paul," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 24-32.
    2. Hamilton, Timothy L. & Wichman, Casey J., 2018. "Bicycle infrastructure and traffic congestion: Evidence from DC's Capital Bikeshare," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 72-93.
    3. Daniel Albalate & Xavier Fageda, 2019. "Congestion, Road Safety, and the Effectiveness of Public Policies in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Brian Taylor & Eric Morris, 2015. "Public transportation objectives and rider demographics: are transit’s priorities poor public policy?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 347-367, March.
    5. Brinkman, P. Anthony, 2003. "The Ethical Challenges and Professional Responses of Travel Demand Forecasters," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt6dv0z95g, University of California Transportation Center.
    6. Bent Flyvbjerg, 2006. "Cost Overruns and Demand Shortfalls in Urban Rail and Other Infrastructure," Transportation Planning and Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 9-30, February.
    7. Stanger, R., 2000. "Ten myths about US urban rail systems by Thomas Rubin, James Moore, and Shin Lee--a rejoinder," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(4), pages 303-305, October.
    8. Brinkman, Anthony P., 2003. "The Ethical Challenges and Professional Responses of Travel Demand Forecasters," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt9c3330tt, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    9. Werner, Carol M. & Brown, Barbara B. & Tribby, Calvin P. & Tharp, Doug & Flick, Kristi & Miller, Harvey J. & Smith, Ken R. & Jensen, Wyatt, 2016. "Evaluating the attractiveness of a new light rail extension: Testing simple change and displacement change hypotheses," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 15-23.
    10. Cao, Xinyu Jason, 2019. "Examining the effect of the Hiawatha LRT on auto use in the Twin Cities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 284-292.
    11. Bradley Lane, 2011. "TAZ-level variation in work trip mode choice between 1990 and 2000 and the presence of rail transit," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 147-171, June.
    12. Harry W. Richardson & Peter Gordon, 2000. "Compactness or Sprawl: America's Future vs. the Present," Working Paper 8645, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
    13. Lane, Bradley W., 2008. "Significant characteristics of the urban rail renaissance in the United States: A discriminant analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 279-295, February.
    14. Brinkman, P. Anthony, 2003. "The Ethical Challenges and Professional Responses of Travel Demand Forecasters," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt7vb2d17h, University of California Transportation Center.
    15. Cao, Xinyu (Jason) & Schoner, Jessica, 2014. "The influence of light rail transit on transit use: An exploration of station area residents along the Hiawatha line in Minneapolis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 134-143.
    16. Beaudoin, Justin & Chen, Yuan & Heres, David R. & Kheiravar, Khaled H. & Lade, Gabriel E. & Yi, Fujin & Zhang, Wei & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2018. "Environmental Policies in the Transportation Sector: Taxes, Subsidies, Mandates, Restrictions, and Investment," ISU General Staff Papers 201808150700001050, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    17. Beaudoin, Justin & Farzin, Y. Hossein & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2015. "Public transit investment and sustainable transportation: A review of studies of transit's impact on traffic congestion and air quality," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 15-22.
    18. De Bruijn, Hans & Veeneman, Wijnand, 2009. "Decision-making for light rail," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 349-359, May.
    19. Jason Cao & Xiaoshu Cao, 2014. "The Impacts of LRT, Neighbourhood Characteristics, and Self-selection on Auto Ownership: Evidence from Minneapolis-St. Paul," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(10), pages 2068-2087, August.

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