Who thinks California needs a sophisticated subway/metro system?

Question

The problem about California is that there are so many cars and it is extremely overpopulated. Gas prices are deathly as we all know it. Pollution is a big problem. So why don't we have a subway system? I live in so cal, and practically everyone drives as transportation. When I came back from Paris last year, I was amazed at how easy the subway was. Why don't we have it here?

Answer 1

It's not just California but it's really frustrating how our state has the largest population but few cities with decent mass transit. Take Los Angeles for example which used to have a good system of subways and electric cars. These are just starting to come back but the sprawl is so huge now it's not enough. (There's various documentaries that mention how car companies have destroyed or altered mass transit systems for their own benefit.)

What would also be nice for longer commutes are double decker highways where the upper level is like an express train, having limited exits. The lower level could be like the local train with all exits accessible.

I don't think it's overpopulated so much as inefficiently created. The current style of city center with suburbs around it was built because of private car transportation. It's just not sustainable or efficient for large populations. If along each freeway there was a commuter train with a decent amount of inter and intra city buses it would help tremendously. I live near a metro station but it doesn't go where I need to go.

Japan has a good system and I used to live there except I lived in the exception state! That place didn't have any trains/subways. It was like LA--you have to drive. However the bus system was quite good so I was often independent for transportation and didn't have to rely on rides like a lot of kids do in America (to school, to sports, etc.).