The average L.A. driver spends 90 hours a year stuck in traffic. Although the quality of the air has improved significantly over the years, the city still has, by some measures, the smoggiest in the country. And, of course, asthma and other ailments from dirty air harm residents, especially children – and particularly those in low-income communities.
Earlier this month, the California environmental group Next 10 released a study ranking the walkability of nearly 500 rail stations in the Golden State’s major cities. Not surprisingly, San Diego’s transit stations rated at or near the bottom.
Half a dozen news reports last week blared a similar headline: A new study showed San Diego’s trolley stops, or its trolley system in general, were the worst in the state.
Transportation is not just about moving people from one place to another. It also influences the way those places develop, look and function. One reason many cities and states have pursued rail and other forms of rapid transit in recent years is to create more walkable, tight-knit and environmentally friendly communities. Additionally, making sure more people have access to more opportunity is a critical factor in mobility planning in U.S. metros.
In a recent report of the rail transit systems in California, San Francisco's MUNI rail system received the highest grades in the Bay Area, while Santa Clara's VTA system received the lowest score.
Are you regularly stuck in traffic, wishing that San Diego had better alternatives? In fact, the region has a robust rail transit network – the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) – which could serve as a vital community asset to help drive the development of transit-oriented, thriving neighborhoods and districts. But when it comes to providing opportunities for more people to take advantage of the existing system, our station areas barely make the grade.
