What is your transit orientation?

Transit means different things in different places on different days.

I lived in San Diego when the public debate over building light rail took place. Happily, the decision in San Diego was to build it . . . and they came to ride the red cars in numbers that exceeded expectations.

More recently, I lived in Salt Lake City when the same public discourse occurred. In Salt Lake, the conversation was followed by a non-binding referendum, which transit proponents actually lost to the folks who seem willing to bet that the status quo will suffice and cost less to taxpayers. Notwithstanding the vote, common sense prevailed and the initial north-south line was built. Once again, ridership exceeded expectations, quieting critics and assuring construction of the east-west lines needed to create a true system. In Salt Lake the buses coordinate with rail and it is easy for car users to park and hop the train. By the way, in both Salt Lake and San Diego, the initial rail lines were built on existing rail right-of-way, resulting in significant cost and time savings.

Now, living in Madison, I'm hoping to participate in the same discussion about transit solutions. I understand that a year or more ago the Mayor tried to carry the banner for an initial transit line, only to be shouted down. Yet, the area seems well-suited for an east-west light rail or trolley line, given the geography and traffic patterns.

Meanwhile, I've discovered that Madison Transit has fairly comprehensive bus coverage. However, two things quickly become obvious: a trip of any length will probably require a transfer at one of the compass quadrant stations and service on the weekend requires you to organize your activities around the bus schedule. Understanding these realities helps put this transit option into perspective.