The only advantage buses have over trains is their flexibility, owing to their ability to literally go off the rails.

And this is a double edged sword, I’d argue it’s more of a negative than a positive. The inability of trains to go off route means they’re a more stable and reliable system. The physical infrastructure of rails is a sign of commitment by the city to having quality transit.

If you’re gonna open a business or buy a house, would you rather be on a light rail line or a bus route? Obviously it’s the light rail. A bus route could change at any time, or busses could be reallocated to higher demand lines. Rails show that there will be reliable transit to this area for the foreseeable future, which attracts both people who want to live nearby and businesses that want customers the transit will bring.

Not to mention all the other reasons rail is better, like busses being louder, rougher, more cramped, and coming with a social stigma that terrifies the White Suburbanite.