Public transit in the U.S. is in a sorry state – aging, underfunded and losing riders, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many proposed solutions focus on new technologies, like self-driving cars and flying taxis.
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But the state of public transit in the U.S. is declining rapidly as transit across the nation faces a fiscal crisis. Philadelphia's SEPTA predicts a deficit of almost $269 million by 2027.
According to Statista Consumer Insights, 73 percent of American commuters use their own car to move between home and work, making it by far the most popular mode of transportation. Meanwhile, only 13 percent of the 7,649 respondents use public transportation while 11 percent ride their bike.
Not only is the New York City public transportation system the most extensive in the country, but it's also one of the few that operates all night long. Both subway trains and bus services run 24/7.
Hong Kong, ChinaThe Special Administrative Region of China – Hong Kong currently holds the top spot in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index for 2022 for having the world's best public transportation system.
“New York is doing well because of its comprehensive subway network that operates 24 hours and the fact that trains go to Long Island and New Jersey,” said Jasper de Lange, transportation project manager at Arcadis. “It also scores high in the amount of people who are using public transit compared to a car to commute.”
Inadequate public transportation can also increase social isolation, particularly for older populations and people with disabilities or others who do not drive. This can increase the risk for early mortality, depression, and dementia.
Low ridership and decreased tax revenue have led the MTA into the worst fiscal crisis in the agency's history. The current gap in funding totals more than $12 billion over the next four years. Without critical funding, the impact of this giant budget gap will be devastating for riders.
Although patterns differ somewhat on the basis of whether an area is a “transit-heavy metro area” or not, in general, some groups rely more on public transportation for commuting than others, including women, young adults (those ages 25–29), Black workers, and low-income workers.
New YorkNew York has subways, buses, and commuter rail systems that connect all five boroughs. New York City has one of the best public transportation in the US, with over 400 stations and 650 miles of track.
Public transit is essential to everyday living in communities across the country, providing access to jobs, schools, shopping, healthcare, and other services while enabling equitable access and sustainable mobility options. Unfortunately, 45% of Americans have no access to transit.
Seoul comes out on top, followed by Madrid and Shanghai. Closer to home the London Underground comes 5th and Paris takes the last spot. Accessibility was assessed with a points-based system. Each subway was given points for the number of stations with step-free access, lifts and escalators.
Fast. Frequent transit means nothing if a string of buses get caught in traffic. A good transit system is both fast and frequent. One way to achieve this is to beat congestion by creating dedicated bus lanes.
Transportation also leads to noise pollution, water pollution, and affects ecosystems through multiple direct and indirect interactions. With the continuous growth in transportation, increasingly shifting to high-speed transportation modes, these externalities are expected to grow.