Deception in Dallas: Strategic Misrepresentation in Rail Transit Promotion and Evaluation
Author:
John F. Kain
DOI:
10.1080/01944369008975758
Publication Frequency:
4 issues per year
Published in:
Journal of the American Planning Association,
Volume
56,
Issue
2
June
1990
, pages 184
- 196
Subjects:
Human Geography;
Planning;
Planning - Human Geography;
Planning, Housing & Land Economy;
Urban Studies;
Formats available:
PDF
(English)
Previously published as:
Journal of the American Institute of Planners
(0002-8991)
until 1979
Previously published as:
Planners' Journal
until 1943
View Article:
View Article (PDF)
Abstract
This article describes the misuse of land-use and ridership forecasts by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). DART made extensive use of clearly unrealistic land use forecasts and optimistic ridership forecasts in its unsuccessful efforts to obtain voter approval for a 91-mile rail transit system. When alternative analyses indicated that the proposed $2.6-billion rail system would carry only slightly more riders than an unimproved bus system, DART tried to conceal the information. Subsequently, when a citizen's group obtained the release of these unfavorable findings, DART attempted to mislead voters about their significance and released cost-effectiveness analyses based on earlier, and clearly incorrect, ridership forecasts.
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