Originally Posted by
ndbiker
Since the system would be set up to encourage mass transit use more people would actually use the trains/buses etc., no longer making them merely superfluously government subsidized entities. The big downside would be that people could just quit going to the city deciding that it's too expensive and a hassle. Some cities especially here in the midwest don't need any reason to discourage people from going into the cities.
Would they be more likely to go to the city center if it was jammed with traffic? Park and ride would be a great way to get a good rate on parking (probably cost a lot more in the center) and it would save a lot of hassle in getting to the center.
I don't know what midwestern city you are talking about, but I believe this to be true for Chicago. Other midwest cities seem to be a little less congested. Problem with some of them is this: who wants to go to a city center if all you get to experience is a traffic jam and bad air?