light rail Archives - Independence Institute

Taking the Trolley, er, Light Rail 0
- August 28, 2013
by Rob Natelson Commuting by car from my home in Lakewood to the Independence Institute usually takes an intense 18 minutes—25 minutes in heavy traffic. But today I decided to take “light rail.” I use the term “light rail” somewhat awkwardly. When I was growing up, I was taught to call it the “trolley,” and
READ MORE
The Breakdown of America 0
- June 8, 2013
A nation’s health and prosperity depends on good institutions. These institutions are political and private. Good political institutions include balanced government with a significant amount of popular control, the rule of law, freedom from corruption, and respect for individual rights. Good private sector institutions include free and open markets and positive moral codes in religious
READ MORE
Denver Post: RTD riders demand return of west side express bus service 0
- June 3, 2013
Some long-time Regional Transportation District customers are angry that their express bus service was dumped in favor of the newly opened W light rail line.
READ MORE

II in Denver Post: RTD FasTracks is still a boondoggle 0
- April 28, 2013
The Denver Post has published an op-ed co-authored by Independent Institute Fellow Randal O’Toole & Brian T. Schwartz. It begins: With great fanfare, RTD opened its West Rail Line for business on Friday. This light-rail line was a boondoggle when it was first planned in 1997. Its even worse today. Read more: Has RTDs FasTracks been
READ MORE
Light-Rail Inefficiency Project 0
- January 25, 2013
Stung by the entirely accurate criticism that it is one of the worst-run transit agencies in America, San Jose’s VTA has come up with a breath-taking plan for improving its efficiency. Naturally enough, the plan is called the light-rail transit efficiency project. Click image to download an 8-MB presentation describing San Jose’s “light-rail efficiency plan.” […]
READ MORE
San Jose Transit Is Still Near the Top 0
- December 31, 2012
That is, near the top of the list of the nation’s worst transit systems, says the San Jose Mercury-New. “The near-empty trolleys that often shuttle by at barely faster than jogging speeds serve as a constant reminder that the car is still king in Silicon Valley,” says the paper, “and that the Valley Transportation Authority’s […]
READ MORE

Contribute