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Transport Subsidies Lead to Bad Decisions

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[quote user="gardendance"][quote user="Samantha"] As I mentioned in a previous post, there has been an increase in property development along the Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail system.  However, there is no evidence that the developments would not have occurred if the rail line had not been built.  That is to say, there is every likelihood, given the growth of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, that the developments would have occurred anyway[/quote]There's probably never going to be any direct evidence to say what the reasons are for real estate development or passengers. Maybe the development would have happened somewhere else had the train station not been buil, but if it occurs near the train station I'd have to conclude that the train station had something to do with picking the location.[/quote]Undoubtedly the development of Mockingbird Station in Dallas was facilitated by the location of the light rail lines.  The blue and red lines converge at Mockingbird Station.  It is important to remember, however, that the fastest growing areas of Dallas (residential and commercial) are not taking place near any of the light rail lines or for that matter the commuter rail line between Dallas and Fort Worth.  They are taking place in Uptown, Victory Station, Oak Lawn, and Oak Cliff.  However, it is anticipated that the opening of the Green and Orange lines will promote addition development in the areas that they serve.  They will run through some of the more depressed areas of Dallas and the Metroplex.The increased property taxes associated with Mockingbird Station don't offset the sales taxes revenues required to build and operate the light rail lines in the Metroplex.  Sales taxes are paid by most residents in the communities that make up the transit district.  But only two per cent of the people in the Metroplex are able to use the light rail system or the commuter rail system.  As a result the few who are able to use it get a large subsidy from the many who don't use it or cannot use it.  No matter how one slices and dices the numbers, light rail is very expensive.  Whether it is the best option, outside of a few locations, is debatable.
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