I started working in downtown St. Paul a month and a half ago. During the first major snow (about a week after I started) I was lamenting the lack of light rail. Buses were running up to an hour late due to snow and associated traffic. I was glad I wasn’t driving, but really, that was little consolation.
There’s a light rail station a block from where I work. The only problem is that it isn’t scheduled to open until 2014. As much as I’d like it to be ready sooner, I understand that doesn’t mean anything. In Denver I noticed the same 18 month dichotomy. The West (Gold, I believe) line of the light rail looked like it was ready in 2011, only to have a launch date of 2013.
I bring all of this up because of a recent conversation I overheard about the light rail at work. Not too far from our building there is a sizable Macy’s department store. One co-worker was telling another that it was going to close. I didn’t hear when or why, and in the spirit of transparency, I haven’t corroborated this rumor. However, it did get me thinking about the potential impact of the light rail on commerce. Ridership is not guaranteed. Nothing will ensure the light rail is a success. From what someone in Human Resources told me, less than 5% of the organization’s employees participate in the pretax mass transit program. With some 200 or so employees, only I was number 6. I don’t know who walks, bikes, or carpools, but my guess is the numbers are low there too. Will more people ride the light rail? Can it help convince companies to stay, return, or move along the so-called Central Corridor? While it remains to be seen, it will be instructive for future economic development.
The light rail requires massive infrastructure investments. Compared to bus service, which can easily switch routes, there is a permanency to light rail. I’m well aware of Los Angeles’s history with street cars being bought out and realize this could happen again. Cheap oil, or energy in general, will do that, regardless of how short-sighted it may be.
At the end of the day, even ridership doesn’t matter for businesses if no one exits the light rail to frequent their establishment. One nice thing though, when you step off the light rail, you know there’s another train coming soon thereafter.
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