> That paradigm is how Japan funds its entire public transit system as a profitable enterprise: allow the rail company to own and develop real estate in close p

> That paradigm is how Japan funds its entire public transit system as a profitable enterprise: allow the rail company to own and develop real estate in close proximity to the stations. We did that though! It's just so much more profitable to sell of the real estate and then let the government run the rails at a loss. Ex. Penn Station's real estate - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_(1910%E2%80%931963)#Demolition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station_(1910%E2%... I suspect this will only work in the US if the "rail company" is actually public. - https://www.bart.gov/about/business/tod https://www.bart.gov/about/business/tod - https://www.wmata.com/business/real-estate-and-development.html https://www.wmata.com/business/real-estate-and-development.h...