Mass Transit and Light Rail 
Recent Research and Commentary
Transit Lease-Back Deals Bite Metro
June 30, 2009, 10:00amTransit agencies used "lease-back" deals on capital assets such as buses and trains to raise cash from private investors, who could then right off the depreciation on the asset. In the wake of the Washington, D.C. Metro tragedy, some Congressman area recommending legislation that effectively nullifies the contracts.
U.C. Berkeley: Trains are Not So Environmentally Friendly
June 29, 2009, 4:52amGAO Points Out Shortcomings of High Speed Rail Plans
June 26, 2009, 12:39amNew Critique of High-Speed Rail Released
June 23, 2009, 5:45pmRandal O'Toole has published another comprehensive critique of high-speed rail in the U.S. indicating operating losses will run nearly $2.4 billion per year while displacing just 0.4% of highway traffic.
The Pragmatic Case Against High-Speed Rail
June 22, 2009, 5:34amHigher government spending is not a reason in and of itself to oppose high-speed rail. Ultimately, high-speed rail fails on the merits.
Trying to Copy Spain's High-Speed Rail System in the U.S.
June 19, 2009, 12:40amView Resources by Type
StudiesBlog PostsOp-EdsReason.comReason.tv
- Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Corridor Transit Service Options: An Investigation and Analysis
Policy Study 372
Thomas A. Rubin
December 16, 2008 - California High-Speed Rail Findings at a Glance
Analyzing the impacts of the state's proposed train system
September 18, 2008 - The California High-Speed Rail Proposal: A Due Diligence Report
Policy Study 370
Joseph Vranich, Wendell Cox and Adrian Moore
September 1, 2008 - Density in Atlanta: Implications for Traffic and Transit
Policy Brief 61
Alain Bertaud and Robert Poole
April 1, 2007 - Rail Disasters 2005
Randall O'Toole
June 1, 2005 - Past Performance vs. Future Hopes
Will Urban Rail Improve Mobility in North Carolina?
Ted Balaker
June 1, 2004 - Great Rail Disasters
The Impact of Rail Transit on Urban Livability
Randall O'Toole
February 1, 2004 - San Jose Demonstrates the Limits of Urban Growth Boundaries and Urban Rail
Randall O'Toole
March 1, 2003 - Busway vs. Rail Capacity
Separating Myth from Fact
Peter Samuel
February 1, 2002 - Does Transit Really Work? Thoughts on the Weyrich/Lind "Conservative Reappraisal"
Peter Gordon
September 1, 1999 - Urban Transit Myths
Misperceptions About Transit and American Mobility
Randall O'Toole
September 1, 1998 - Myths of Light Rail Transit
James V. DeLong
September 1, 1998 - Rethinking Transit "Dollars and Sense"
Unearthing the True Cost of Public Transit
John Semmons
August 1, 1998 - A Transit Plan for Hillsborough County, California
Peter Gordon
June 1, 1998 - Replacing Amtrak
A Blueprint for Sustainable Passenger Rail Service
Joseph Vranich
October 1, 1997 - Rubber Tire Transit
A Viable Alternative to Rail
Thomas A. Rubin and James E. Moore II
August 1, 1997 - Ten Transit Myths
Misperceptions About Rail Transit in Los Angeles and the Nation
Thomas A. Rubin and James E. Moore II
November 1, 1996 - Why Rail Will Fail
An Analysis of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Long Range Plan
Thomas A. Rubin and James E. Moore II
August 1, 1996 - Comparing Public and Private Bus Transit Services
A Study of the Los Angeles Foothill Transit Zone
John O'Leary
July 1, 1993 - Competitive Contracting of Transit Services
Jean Love and Wendell Cox
March 1, 1993 - A Public Purpose for Public Transit
A Response to the EPI Report
Wendell Cox and Jean Love
January 1, 1990
Related Topics
Poole's Newsletter
- Surface Transportation Innovations #67
Topics include: bills to curtail toll road PPPs; caution on economic impact studies; carbon caps; tunnels to somewhere; buses vs. inter-city rail; and other news.
May 15, 2009
Robert Poole - More
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