How Light Rail is Making Cities Leaner, Greener and More Sustainable - VIDEO STORY

SANTA CLARA, CA - August 13, 2010: It's clean and green and makes the daily commute to and from work quick and easy. That's why as many as 1.5 million people pack light rail trains across the country every day. It helps eliminate cars from congested road ways and reduce carbon emissions by 20 pounds per person, per day. Now, new research suggests it may also help travelers shed a few extra pounds of their own. A recent study published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that the use of light rail systems leads to more physical exercise for its passengers. It also found that commuters who were regular riders were as much as six pounds lighter than those who drive to work each day. The institution of light rails also means potential job gains for a city. In fact, if Congress passes a $500 billion transportation bill, as many as 7.2 million jobs could be created, many in the light rail industry.

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U.S. cities rely on light rail to drive growth

Many cities in the United States are approaching gridlock and are therefore consistently turning to light rail. One example is Charlotte, North Carolina, where 16 new S70 light rail vehicles from Siemens recently went into service. This has noticeably relieved the city's chronically over-congested streets. And it has done much more.

Just three years ago, the line ran through an industrial wasteland. Since then – and despite the economic crisis – many new businesses and restaurants have sprung up in this area. Small wonder that urban planners use their light rail planning specifically to develop a sustainable city and to promote growth within the municipality. Jürgen Wilder, who heads Siemens Rolling Stock USA, explains the phenomenon: "A rail line will be reliable for the next 50 years." This sustainable transport is also why real estate prices rise along the planned line as early as the project planning phase of a light rail system.