QUOTABLE Transit waste

QUOTABLE

Transit waste

"Today's metropolitan areas are extensively decentralized, and all indications are that the process will continue. Information and telecommunications technology has greatly increased the flexibility of economic activity, a trend that is expected to intensify. This technology has made possible the development of spatially distributed production systems that take advantage of of low-cost suppliers no matter where they are located. Employers are also also using more temporary and home-based workers and self-employment is increasing rapidly. These changes are reducing the value of agglomeration as in the traditional downtown...Such locations are of little value when information can be exchanged instantaneously through a variety of media and when access to the labor force is ubiquitous...

"Rail transit is a costly way to influence development patterns. Transit investments generally have little effect on accessibility. A new transit line, for example, decreases travel times for only a small share of the many trips made within a metropolitan area, yet costs hundreds of millions to build and requires large operating susbidies. (It) has no effect on the underlying forces of decentralization..." (Genevieve Giuliano, School of Urban Planning, Univ Sth Calif in TR News #187 Nov/Dec 96 p12)