‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Transit rewards

258 points · 348 comments · raybb

  1. dcrazy · · focus · HN ↗
    Meanwhile, the 47 Muni bus that connects the Van Ness transit corridor to Caltrain has been “suspended” since 2020, and the extension of Caltrain to the transit center is still unfunded.

    I appreciate solutions that meet us where we are, but it’s depressing that we don’t seem to actually have the will to make a sustainable, integrated mass transit plan.

    1. Gigachad · · focus · HN ↗
      I wonder if something like this could improve the economics of public transport though. Passengers do the bulk of their travel on the well used train line, and then the last part of their trip is covered by waymo which could be more cost effective than running mostly empty busses.
      1. tristanj · · focus · HN ↗
        The best formula for public transit is the Rail plus Property business model. In Hong Kong, the MTR Corporation buys up land adjacent to a planned future station, then builds the station afterwards. Then makes money from renting out the properties adjacent to the station.

        JR East in Japan operates in the same way: it makes the majority of its profit from the real estate, malls, and hotels it operates adjacent to its train stations.

        1. LikesPwsh · · focus · HN ↗
          No need to give distant examples - the US train boom used the same strategy.
          1. intrasight · · focus · HN ↗
            Sound Transit still uses this strategy in Seattle region.
            1. Schiendelman · · focus · HN ↗
              They really don't. They don't build residential or commercial property.
          2. threetonesun · · focus · HN ↗
            Did it? I always assumed the US train boom aligned with shipping companies more than land at the destinations, which is why even today cargo gets priority over Amtrak.
            1. vel0city · · focus · HN ↗
              Outside of the Eastern part of the US, the railroad land grant programs were a major part.

              <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Railroad_land_grants_in_the_United_States" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Railroad_land_grants_in_the_Un...

              This is a part of why there were so many tiny little towns out West which were essentially just a railroad stop and a few buildings.

          3. 8note · · focus · HN ↗
            the US train boom is much further away.

            you can get to hong kong or jspan in hours to days. the train boom is about a century away

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.