Critics of California's proposed high-speed rail system say that big cities are too spread apart for it to work as well as it has in Europe and Asia. Additionally, Californians will have to learn to adapt to density and public transportation.
"'They're saying it works in Europe, but there are problems comparing (California) with Europe,' said Adrian Moore, vice president of research for the Reason Foundation, which opposes the bond measure. 'It's far more densely developed, and people there were already used to riding trains.'
Transportation experts, including many high-speed rail supporters, say that denser land use - as in Europe and Asia - will be necessary for the system to succeed.
'The high-speed rail system could be far more successful if it's connected with plans to build high density around station sites,' said Martin Wachs, director of the transportation, space and technology program at Rand, a Santa Monica think tank.
Daniels said the authority is already studying ways to encourage denser land use around high-speed rail stations. Van Ark said that usually happens naturally, as high-speed rail makes it possible for people to commute longer distances to work, and proximity to a station becomes valuable."
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Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
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Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
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Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service