Yes, absolutely, you've got the right idea! I agree with you so much that I can't even find anything to quibble with, which is... unusual. Is this a subject that you're professionally engaged with?
And nope, I have no professional experience with this, I just like trains a bit too much and want more of them. :D
Even more than that, people who like transport often fail to consider it in a holistic context which includes land-use patterns, development typologies, etc. Appreciating the inter-relatedness of these things is not common, even amongst professionals. Maybe especially amongst professionals.
Anyhow, if you happen to be a coder and would like some professional experience with this, give me a shout. I run www.podaris.com, and we're trying to make it easier to build cities the way you like 'em.