The myth of the successful Calgary LRT

The 30th Anniversary of the C-Train: A Critical Analysis of Calgary’s Light Rail Transit System, by Steve Lafleur
Some nuggets about the Calgary LRT (dubbed the CTrain) from this report, which was released on March 30, 2011:

• The conservative estimate herein puts the cost per paying rider at roughly $2.88
  
• [There is an assumption] that the CTrain is actually getting people out of their cars — it is not. Despite the City’s Draconian efforts to curb downtown parking, more people drive downtown than in any other Canadian city.
  
• Calgarians travel further to work than do residents of any Canadian city with a population over one million, save Edmonton.
  
• the CTrain has actually helped drive urban sprawl
  
• The independent U.S. Government Accountbility Office recognizes BRT as a superior alternative to LRT.
  
• It is slow and expensive and at best has a moderately positive impact on traffic. At worst, it has a moderately negative impact.

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