SAN JOSE DEMONSTRATES THE LIMITS OF URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARIES AND URBAN RAIL

This paper discusses the evidence against the use of urban-growth boundaries and urban rail as mitigation measures for traffic congestion and suburban development. It notes that, in theory, these measures might make sense. However, in practice, as demonstrated in the city of San Jose, California, urban-growth boundaries have driven up the price of housing by 936% in 25 years; and the light rail system in San Jose has not been successful. The ridership for the light rail system did not exceed half of what the original study forecast, and operating costs of the light rail system are over twice as much as the national average. The paper describes the San Jose experience, and cautions readers not to make the same mistakes in their cities.

• Record URL:
  http://www.reason.org/ps309.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  Reason Foundation

  3415 S Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 400
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90034
• Authors:
  • O'Toole, R
• Publication Date: 2003-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dwellings; Land; Light rail transit; Operating costs; Prices; Ridership; Urban growth; Urban transit
• Uncontrolled Terms: Growth boundaries
• Geographic Terms: San Jose (California)
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00963091
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Policy Study 309
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 2 2003 12:00AM