CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO RIDE TRANSIT

JUSTIFICATION FOR GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS FINANCIALLY IS DESCRIBED. TO GET SUFFICIENT RIDERS TO SUPPORT A GOOD TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WILL IN TURN ATTRACT RIDERS, IT IS NECESSARY TO COMBINE ALL TYPES OF DEMAND INTO A SINGLE SERVICE. TRANSIT MUST BE NEARLY AS FAST AS DRIVING, LESS COSTLY THAN DRIVING, AND SIMPLE ENOUGH IN ROUTE PATTERN THAN CAN BE FOUND ON A FREQUENT INTERIVAL. MONORAIL HAS BEEN SUGGESTED AS ONE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A LOW COST-PER-RIDE FACILITY. ELECTRIC EXPRESS TRANSIT-WAY IS DESCRIBED. THE SUCCESSFUL SUBWAY AND RAPID TRANSIT SERVICES IN OPERATION IN SEVERAL CITIES ARE DESCRIBED. SUBWAYS AND COMMUTER TRAINS ARE MERELY APPLICATIONS OF TROLLEY CAR TECHNOLOGY, AS IS THE FAMOUS SKOKIE SWIFT IN CHICAGO. WITH RAPID TRANSIT ELECTRIC RAIL CARS, A SINGLE EMPLOYEE CAN MOVE 300 SEATED PASSENGERS WITHOUT AUTOMATION. SINCE DRIVER'S WAGES CONSUME NEARLY HALF THE TRANSIT FARE WHERE THERE IS NO SUBSIDY, IT IS QUICKLY APPARENT HOW BADLY RAIL EFFICIENCY IS NEEDED AS WAGES CLIMB HIGHER. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TO PREVENT THE WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, CONCENTRATION SHOULD BE MADE ON THE MOST EFFICIENT FACILITIES THAT THE PUBLIC WILL PATRONIZE IN ORDER THAT A BALANCED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF MOVEMENT FOR THE TRAVELER, WITH THE NECESSARY VARIETY OF USABLE FACILITIES TO MAKE A CHOICE POSSIBLE.