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Re: Key System demise
Author: mook
Date: 03-31-2016 - 09:36
Privately owned/operated rail transit systems were "dead men walking" after about 1930, as people began using cars more, but many could have continued longer than they did. There's ample evidence (even a court finding) of NCL's part in eliminating rail transit. Ultimately, though, it *was* economics and public preference that shut it down; NCL just pushed the process along a bit faster.
Note that the major effect was on PRIVATE operations; those were relatively easy to shut down. NCL just bought them, then convinced the public utility regulators (often with some truth) that buses were a better option. In many cases, they were correct that reconstructing the (by then) worn-out rail lines would have been far more expensive than the ridership and fares could support. Publicly-owned and operated systems similarly cut back rail operations for similar reasons, though not always to the point of elimination, so we kept a few Muni lines, for instance.
All things considered, though, for a one-line description of the process, Wiki isn't bad.
Note that the major effect was on PRIVATE operations; those were relatively easy to shut down. NCL just bought them, then convinced the public utility regulators (often with some truth) that buses were a better option. In many cases, they were correct that reconstructing the (by then) worn-out rail lines would have been far more expensive than the ridership and fares could support. Publicly-owned and operated systems similarly cut back rail operations for similar reasons, though not always to the point of elimination, so we kept a few Muni lines, for instance.
All things considered, though, for a one-line description of the process, Wiki isn't bad.
