For three years I rode Metro Rail to/from work in Los Angeles. Often it was faster than driving the miserable and unpredictable freeways here. I am also an engineer whose time is worth considerably more than $8/hr. But how does one put a price on arriving at work or at home relaxed as opposed to frustrated. And as noted by the previous poster, time on the train can be put to good use... making phone calls, working with the laptop, reading, or occasionally even dozing.