Bocky Mountain News, 2/27/2001, p. 34A, Letters page, right column:
Officials must abandon anti-auto evangelism
Some facts overlooked by Ann Warhover in her op-ed criticizing me (Feb.
19) bear consideration.
First, while 55 percent of transportation resources will be spent on
transit over the next quarter century, DRCOG projects transit's market
share will increase only one percentage point (from 2 to 3 percent).
Second, as regards the potential for attracting people from cars,
transit is about downtown and downtown only. People with a choice do not
use transit to other locations, because it is too slow and inconvenient.
RTD projects that the I-25 line will deliver only a small percentage of
workers to the area's largest employment area, the Denver Tech Center.
Third, no credible vision has been enunciated in Denver whereby more
transit might, at any level of spending, make a perceivable difference
in traffic congestion or air pollution. The vision seems to be limited
to spending large amounts of taxpayer money.
The test of a light-rail system's success is not how many people are on
the train, but rather how many cars it takes off the road. Virtually all
experience around the nation has shown that the number is very small.
Moreover, the cost is exorbitant -- generally more costly per car
removed than leasing a luxury car.
The reality that all agree upon is that, regardless of the level of
transit spending, almost all future demand will be for auto travel. It
is time for local officials to abandon their anti-auto evangelism and
seek instead to solve the problems that actually exist. One percent
solutions are not enough.
Wendell Cox
Principal
Wendell Cox Consultancy
St. Louis
