University of California Transportation Center

Billions of dollars have been and are being spent on urban rail transit in California, yet the last 20 years have seen the private automobile increase its market share of travel at the expense of public transportation. Between 1980 and 1990, for instance, transit's share of commute trips feel from 5.4 percent to 4.8 percent greater in Los Angeles and from 11.9 percent to 10.0 percent in the San Francisco Bay Area.

One possible strategy for reversing this trend would be to concentrate more housing and workplaces around rail stations -- that is, put more of the ends of the commute trip, home and work, near transit. Besides increasing transit ridership, other secondary benefits might accrue improved air quality (especially to the extent short park-and-ride trips are converted to walk-and-ride), higher revenues (not just from farebox returns but possible joint development programs like air rights leasing), inner-city redevelopment and increases in affordable housing, and infill development and more efficient urban form.