by VPayne
Just look at some of the research that Lexie Lu did and then presented at a TRB meeting regarding urban access in the US. I think this guy had worked in the UK first so he understood dense rail networks.
Basically the idea comes down to the HSR circling the destination city, after making a stop of say the airport and then the city center, as a commuter train with frequent station calls. If the ring is 10 miles out from the center, the distribution trip would have a much greater perceived time efficiency than a taxi from a distant airport as a one-seat ride is obtained instead of a transfer. That one seat ride would take you to a point very near to your location. From there you take a short cab trip, rent a car, ride a job van or bus, or get picked up for the last 5 miles or less.
The 10 mile ring would bring 448,000 acres of city within 5 miles of a station. Figure your favorite land density to get the population served.
With a little organization of the station sites by private developers and tunneling around urban areas the ring would add a lot to the city in mobility than any road project for the buck.
Basically the idea comes down to the HSR circling the destination city, after making a stop of say the airport and then the city center, as a commuter train with frequent station calls. If the ring is 10 miles out from the center, the distribution trip would have a much greater perceived time efficiency than a taxi from a distant airport as a one-seat ride is obtained instead of a transfer. That one seat ride would take you to a point very near to your location. From there you take a short cab trip, rent a car, ride a job van or bus, or get picked up for the last 5 miles or less.
The 10 mile ring would bring 448,000 acres of city within 5 miles of a station. Figure your favorite land density to get the population served.
With a little organization of the station sites by private developers and tunneling around urban areas the ring would add a lot to the city in mobility than any road project for the buck.
