Executive Summary

Cities in Washington like Seattle and Tacoma are spending increasing amounts of tax payer money on building light rail systems in order to get a greater number of people to ride public transportation. But is it working? The results are inconclusive thus far. Ridership is rising, but in year to year numbers that are still somewhat modest, causing skepticism among some. Those in favor suggest that it is a more environmentally friendly method, that it’s more convenient, and will eventually catch on with the masses. Opponents say it has not caught on enough to be worth the considerable investment, claiming improvements for buses get more bang for their buck than light rail. It has been a slow project to materialize initially but is now quickly expanding to more and more locations in and around Seattle and Tacoma. Good or bad, there is about to be more of it.

Full Report: Light_Rail_Washington_State_Report

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