ICOSA
Fare-Free and Fast AF
RECEIVED Mon., Jan. 20, 2020
Dear Editor,
Train boosters, including the Chronicle, are depending on community amnesia ["Get On Board," News, Jan. 17]. The reasons we rejected the train in 2000 and 2014, like cost effectiveness, construction traffic nightmares and rider stigmatization remain constant.
We rejected a $1 billion train and are now going to swallow a $10 billion train?
The whole capacity discussion is sort of ridiculous given the only time the system has ever approached capacity was during the fare-free years of 1989-91. Ridership is usually anemic and depends mostly on gas prices. Pouring billions into something and wishing for people to ride it is an expensive gamble. Building out a bus system that is frankly performing better than ever is a much safer and infinitely cheaper bet. [Bus rapid transit] is flexible and high-capacity, and when it's fare-free it's fast AF.
Train boosters, including the Chronicle, are depending on community amnesia ["Get On Board," News, Jan. 17]. The reasons we rejected the train in 2000 and 2014, like cost effectiveness, construction traffic nightmares and rider stigmatization remain constant.
We rejected a $1 billion train and are now going to swallow a $10 billion train?
The whole capacity discussion is sort of ridiculous given the only time the system has ever approached capacity was during the fare-free years of 1989-91. Ridership is usually anemic and depends mostly on gas prices. Pouring billions into something and wishing for people to ride it is an expensive gamble. Building out a bus system that is frankly performing better than ever is a much safer and infinitely cheaper bet. [Bus rapid transit] is flexible and high-capacity, and when it's fare-free it's fast AF.
Glenn Gaven
