The value of transit isn't the fact you rode on it, but the fact you get somewhere you want to go. Tokyo rail companies, and those of many other countries as we

The value of transit isn't the fact you rode on it, but the fact you get somewhere you want to go. Tokyo rail companies, and those of many other countries as well (Hong Kong comes to mind), also hold the ability to build shopping and apartments on the stations they build (if you've been, you've probably been to Atré, Lumine, Kirarina, Tokyu etc. station malls, and you've probably spent money in them), which more than reimburses the cost of the rail itself, because ultimately the point of riding a train is to get somewhere—and if the transit companies get the ability to own that "somewhere" themselves, it becomes immediately obvious how valuable transit is. In the case of San Francisco, hopefully the State of California Bill AB 2923 [1] passes—that's one step in realizing this model of integrated transit, housing, and commercial development, that just makes sense. [1] https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/24/17778648/ab-2923-bart-housing-senate-vote https://sf.curbed.com/2018/8/24/17778648/ab-2923-bart-housin...