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Originally Posted by Doady
Dallas-Fort Worth area has the largest light rail network on the continent (150km) but it also has easily the worst transit ridership and mode share of the big four in Texas, one of the worst in the country (12 boardings per capita, 1.5% of commuters using transit). Despite their lack of light rail, Austin and San Antonio still have much better transit ridership and mode share than Dallas (19 and 20 boardings per capita, 2.7% and 2.2% mode share, respectively).
Light rail can't function in isolation. Cities need to build the foundations for light rail for it successful. A light rail line, like ANY transit line, needs to be part of a wider and comprehensive network. Dallas for example only finally saw ridership growth after massive expansion of bus services last year. Ridership grew by 14% in 2019 (+30% for buses, -2% for light rail).
Winnipeg, Las Vegas, Quebec City, these are probably the best candidates for new light rail systems right now. Systems each around 70 million boardings annually, the ridership getting too much for buses to handle. That's why you build light rail. Light rail is not a solution for low ridership. Light rail is a solution for high ridership. You build light rail because the ridership is too high, not because the ridership is too low. With ridership of 30 million, Austin probably is not at that point yet, but with enough commitment (bus expansion, TOD) it can get there.
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I am not going to disagree with your data nor your opinions. But I would like to point something out, DART built a light rail system because that is what they were told to do by the local taxpayers willing to subsidize it. Democracy in action to the hilt, voters being sold a rail solution for public transit and gullible enough to vote yes because we have to do something to reduce air pollution and clear traffic congestion.
Well, the rail solution has not worked as well as many had hoped with the belief that if you build it riders will ride it. Drivers continue to drive their cars. What has reduced traffic congestion, highway expansion that many pundits say will only increase traffic congestion in the future - but as of now, traffic congestion is way down.
The only times in the last few decades where DART actually saw an increase in ridership was when Dallas has had an economic slump. But pro business policies locally has kept that to a minimum, therefore the continuing low public transit ridership. The results is all based upon the local economy, do not let the so called experts suggest otherwise with multiple red herrings.
But here is the good news, if the local Dallas economy turns sour, a public transit system is in place to move any potential ridership increase, and is not on some planners drawing board waiting to be built.