4 ms·

Exactly. And people keep forgetting about more common things like parking and traffic. If you increase the number of people in the area, then traffic is going

Exactly. And people keep forgetting about more common things like parking and traffic. If you increase the number of people in the area, then traffic is going to suffer exponentially without a proper mass transit system. But the Bay Area doesn't have even a half-way competent MTS. BART is basically end of life, and it doesn't connect effectively with Caltrain. It requires multi-billion dollar investments in MTS, but there has been none since BART in the 60s, which is inadequate and run down now.

nopinsight 10y ago
It is true that traffic problems could suffer temporarity as density increases and the infrastructure does not keep up. However, if it can be anticipated, and in SV it is, that the demand will be continue to be high, the municipalities can plan for increased public transportation with better service schedule for everyone. This includes larger investments like roads and subways in the long run. In particular, increased tax base from new homeowners and commercial properties can be earmarked to support mass transit infrastructure and schools.
redditmigrant 10y ago
This is a bit of chicken and egg. There is very little appetite for building mass transit until there is density and thus cost effectiveness, but your point is how can you increase density without first building out mass transit. So they would have to go hand in hand, where you build up and increase mass transit at the same time. Obviously mass transit is going to take longer to build than housing, so there is going to be short term pain.
- pfarnsworth 10y ago
  I'm assuming by "short term" you're talking geological time, because in the 20+ years I've lived in Silicon Valley, I've seen almost zero improvements to the Mass Transit. I've seen some minor upgrades, but it's still generally terrible. So unless concerted effort and a lot of taxpayer money is dumped into Mass Transit, I don't think anything is going to happen. The simple fact that BART still doesn't go down to San Jose yet, or extend out to Tracy is embarrassing, but it's been talked about for decades.

nopinsight 10y ago

It is true that traffic problems could suffer temporarity as density increases and the infrastructure does not keep up. However, if it can be anticipated, and in SV it is, that the demand will be continue to be high, the municipalities can plan for increased public transportation with better service schedule for everyone. This includes larger investments like roads and subways in the long run. In particular, increased tax base from new homeowners and commercial properties can be earmarked to support mass transit infrastructure and schools.

redditmigrant 10y ago

This is a bit of chicken and egg. There is very little appetite for building mass transit until there is density and thus cost effectiveness, but your point is how can you increase density without first building out mass transit. So they would have to go hand in hand, where you build up and increase mass transit at the same time. Obviously mass transit is going to take longer to build than housing, so there is going to be short term pain.

pfarnsworth 10y ago
I'm assuming by "short term" you're talking geological time, because in the 20+ years I've lived in Silicon Valley, I've seen almost zero improvements to the Mass Transit. I've seen some minor upgrades, but it's still generally terrible. So unless concerted effort and a lot of taxpayer money is dumped into Mass Transit, I don't think anything is going to happen. The simple fact that BART still doesn't go down to San Jose yet, or extend out to Tracy is embarrassing, but it's been talked about for decades.