Myth 4: Rail transit requires excessive land use densities

This myth is used to scare residents in low density areas into believing that rail is doomed to fail… or that it’s part of a conspiracy to turn their once-beloved neighborhood into the next Manhattan. Rail can connect major activity centers like business districts, airports, campuses, shopping malls, and suburban residential areas. Light rail can function efficiently with densities as low as 25 residents (about 10 housing units) per acre, which can be achieved with a combination of single-family and mid-rise multi-family housing (Pushkarev and Zupan 1997). We have seen this in the success of light rail systems in communities with densities similar to – or lower than – our own. The table below lists the densities of other cities compared to the City of Tampa’s density now, and the projected density for 2035. If the densities here are already comparable to those in other communities with rail, clearly “excessive” densities are not required for success.
Let’s make one more point about density. For those who value their suburban or rural community, the best choice you can make to preserve that community is to support light rail. Rail concentrates growth in the urban center, preventing further growth in rural areas and increased density in suburban areas.

Check the facts:
Hillsborough County MPO, http://www.mpo2035.org/faqs.html
Pushkarev and Zupan, Public Transportation & Land Use Policy, A Regional Planning Association Book, Indiana University Press, 1997

Heroically yours,

Mobility Mike and Commuter Carly