Seems like both of yall are making some good points. Fact is, there is no perfect catch-all solution for every transit challenge. All have their good points and their bad, and you try to incorporate each solution (be it heavy rail, light rail, streetcar, rapid bus, bus, car, bike or foot) where it will best fit, within demographic, geographic, and budgetary parameters. SA's situation is different from Portland's, which is different from San Francisco, which is different from Paris, which is different from Tokyo. You can use one to learn from the other, but each have their specific challenges that have to be addressed.
Granted, this is all coming from somebody who won't start in the UMKC urban planning program until this fall, so take it as you will
