Public transit funding and recovery funds
The pandemic has exposed a public transport funding gap.
Public transit funding and recovery funds
The pandemic has exposed public transit funding issues. Decreased ridership has shortened operation hours and frequency of service, plus the drop in tax revenues has decimated subsidies. The brunt of all of this has been borne by essential workers. While this issue is multi-layered, it is certain that we treat transit and driving differently. Can you imagine if we closed lesser used roads and turned off traffic lights during the pandemic to save costs?
Getting There by Stephen Goddard describes how transit agencies grew out of private train companies. The goal was always to fill the most seats; running the fewest number of trains with the most people maximizes profit. Transit in the pre-automobile age was profitable. Transit-oriented development was the rule, towns were compact and walkable, and destinations were reachable by train or boat. You can still visit #TheGreenbriar in White Sulphur Springs WV by train.
Now we have vast tracts of land and suburban sprawl - hardly transit-oriented. American investment patterns since WWII have favored travel by automobile, the cost of travel by private car is quite low, and public transit is not profitable due to lack of density and scattered destinations. We have spent decades building for driving. To tack toward transit, which is mandatory to head off climate change, will require more than recovery funds.
Thanks to @WalterHook of BRTplan.com for his insights.
Love this collections of transit signs in #CapeTown.