[greywallsareboring]

Originally Posted by TTU Arch

Posted this in the transportation blog, but posting here too since it applies to DFW.

A new report has come out about Amtrack's ridership numbers from the Brookings institute. http://www.brookings.edu/research/re...-puentes-tomer

Its a mixed bag but generally ridership numbers have gone up. I have to say being in Texas I had to do a double take at the DFW numbers. While DFW is not one of the 10 metro's they cite as being a major contributer to ridership, the overall increase from 97 to 2012 is substantial (482.9% up from 34K to more than 200K). Something to not be ignored and shows growing support of passenger rail at least in North and Central Texas. Houston had a growth of a little over 4,000 riders in the same period to a total of 20K plus riders, San Antonio 60% to 70K, and Austin 383% to about 54K. I'm a supporter of HSR, and now understand why Amtrack in Texas is concentrated more on connecting DFW with San Antonio / Austin with HSR. I always thought Houston / DFW was the first natural connection, but looking at the ridership numbers puts a new perspective on it. Still think Houston and DFW need to be connected as being the two primary metro's in the state.

http://transportationblog.dallasnews...il-plans.html/

Now if we could only get a big jump in DART ridership. If there was a Dallas to Houston route I would certainly use DART more.