Light rail
lines are popping up all over the world in small-to-mid-sized cities and suburbs
Ideas for Transit: Suburbs
Despite post-World War II suburbs that were designed to keep transit out, the suburbs have a wide range of transit options ranging from vanpools to commuter rail. While challenging, transit to the suburbs is a necessity due to the rising costs of oil.
A range of low-cost options can make the service much better. Light rail lines can run alongside wider suburban roads and then run in, above, or below narrower city streets. Dedicated bus lanes, large bus terminals, and well-placed commuter rail stations can also take the load off of suburban roads and highways. Existing corridors should be better utilized; many freight rail lines have the capacity to handle more commuter trains. Highway medians have been successfully used for mass transit lines in cities such as Chicago and Washington DC.
