I'm a resident of the Houston area, and so I have to listen to these light-rail accident horror stories all the time. Our mass transit company, METRO, has finally realized that light rail causes too many problems on downtown streets. So far the only solution METRO can think of is to start building a subway system. Many people in the Houston area, upon hearing this idea, pause for a moment, then say something along the lines of "but we're at sea level." Local talk show host Chris Baker dubbed it the "METRO submarine."

Needless to say, many of us have lost faith in METRO. We still don't know why they've ignored the monorail option for so long wich would at least be better than light rail or a subway that would have to be constantly pumped free of water.

Meanwhile, there has been no noticeable reduction in congestion.

Mr. O'Toole,

I've had a site named The Commons since March/April. I've been duly registered with Site Meter, Technorati, The Truth Laid Bare, and so forth. I had a contributor send me a link to this spot, of which I was unawares. I'm disappointed that you guys put up your site without checking out my name. Very disappointed.

Please drop me a note or something.

Paul Fordiani
paulie@paulieworld.com
www.paulieworld.com/blog
The Commons

If you cared so much for the name why did you not bother to buy the domain? Ridiculous.

Greetings!

A few minor corrections: The Sierra Club link says BART has decided to abandon the San Bruno to Millbrea leg. Now that may mean they plan to in the future with some new schedule yet to be announced. But as of today, the Richmond to Millbrea service goes directly from San Bruno to Millbrea during commute hours, bypassing SFO. Not abandoned yet.

VTA has opened the Capital Avenue extension to service. The Vasona line is the only remaining light rail line under construction. The Capital Avenue extension replaced a bus line that provided 30 minute headway, and ended around 10 PM at night. Light rail stations replace are 1 for 3; one station replaces 3 bus stops except for the last 2 stations, where they replace 4 bus stops. The last station is called Alum Rock which is a little deceiving, since Alum Rock riders will find themselves crossing Alum Rock at 30 mph and go another 4/10 of a mile before they pull in to the station, which is 2 more streets down Capital Ave.

In order to help provide ridership on the line, VTA butchered the existing bus service throughout East San Jose. In some cases riders have to pay 2 fares, where they once paid one. Bus lines were shortened, diverted, or eliminated, so that in a few months another ploy we have seen occur over and over in this country, will take place. "Surprise, surprise! Ridership is ahead of expectations...."

Also, I was surprised to learn in the Grand Jury Report that VTA fares are $1.75. Since an adult fare today is $1.50, this means another fare increase in 2005, I guess. Already planned.

When the current recession hit, VTA had not physically started any BART construction. They did, however, slow ongoing construction on the new light rail lines.

Last but not least, the San Jose to BART line will replace one bus line, the Express 180. This goes from downtown San Jose to Fremont BART, where the BART extension would start. After 7:30 PM, service is hourly, with roughly half full loads. And of course, service ends at midnight sharp, because that is when BART's last train leaves. To be sure, there are a handful of commute hour feeder bus lines that also serve Fremont BART. But they are a low number. So the basic service should be compared to the 180 Express line, and that line surely is not overcrowded.

I cannot understand how the BART extension will help traffic on I-880. These cars do not end up on San Jose's east side. I do not see huge streams of cars coming off I-880 and going down into the Berryessa or downtown San Jose area.