‹ 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. mitxela · · focus · HN ↗
          I don't like having more feudalism though. One company owning all the good land - yikes!
          1. Uke · · focus · HN ↗
            The government should own it. All infrastructure like that should be in a nations hand.
            1. mcmcmc · · focus · HN ↗
              And then the government gets to decide who can lease that prime real estate next to the station? Sure, that won’t have any problems with corruption
              1. ihsw · · focus · HN ↗

                [dead]

              2. mitxela · · focus · HN ↗
                Having a central arbiter of contested resources is literally the reason governments exist.
Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.