Mass transit fans, this will make you sad

[krispos42]

I really can't believe we have this little underground mass transit! There's virtually NOTHING in the middle of the country!!!

http://xkcd.com/1196/

[aristocles]

1. Underground mass transit makes no sense...

...states like Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Utah, and more.

[JHB]

3. Agreed. Note that several of those shown are not entirely underground...

...and, in fact, are above-ground for a large portion or even most of the system. Large parts of the NYC system are elevated or on-ground; only in Manhattan have Els been eliminated. In Washington the lines dip underground within the central city, but are overland outside of that. I haven't been to Chicago, but its Els are well-known.

Also, large stretches of BART are more like a commuter rail than a subway, so we should include the LIRR, Metro North, NJ Transit, SEPTA, and numerous other commuter rail systems. And then, we should add numerous light rail/trolley systems.

We could use more, but more of what makes sense for particular areas. One type does not fit all, especially when you also have to account for the existing car-centered low-density development. People have to be able to use it.

[liberal N proud]

4. Cities like St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas and Denver have now mass transit

And they should.

Kansas City airport is more than 20 miles from Downtown. St. Louis is much the same. And how far is it from Denver to the airport? Almost half way to Kansas?

These cities ignore that they are large metropolitan areas.

[brooklynite]

2. Artistic maybe, but not sad...

You have expanding light rail networks in Denver, Houston, Dallas, Seattle and Portland. Given population and density, heavy rail transit isn't automatically the right choice in every City.