Demographia Policy Shorts

Policy Point #2:
High Speed Rail in Ventura County:
Romance and Reality

To the Ventura County Star

Re: Donald Star High Speed Rail Column

Dear Editor:

Donald Katz could not have it more wrong. Even if the state could afford to build it, high speed rail would have virtually no impact on traffic congestion. Not even the promoters computer models can be tortured into producing projections that would make a material difference in traffic congestion. Further, there is virtually no hope for transit to make any difference, since it can only serve downtown with auto competitive service (as in downtown Los Angeles). This is true as true in New York and much of Europe as it is in Southern California. Regional planning agency across the nation recognize that virtually all new travel demand in urban areas will be automobiles, and it is time to come to grips with that. The question is whether or not we are going to accomodate the increase in auto travel that is certain to occur. Senator McClintock is on the right track.

Sincerely,
Wendell Cox
Principal, Wendell Cox Consultancy (St. Louis)
Member, Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (1977-1985)

31 July 2002

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