Why Public Transportation Pays for Itself

This is an argumentative research paper in favor of public transportation. Originally written for an english class at the University of Louisville by Lucas Niemi

A vital aspect of anybody’s life is the ability to get where they need to be. Whether that be getting to school, work, the grocery store, a doctor, or visiting family; the ability to get around town is a crucial part of life. The ability to move around is what connects us to education, job opportunities, our community, and the resources we need. In America, the primary way of getting around is the automobile. Since the invention of the car in the early 1900s, the American way of life has been strongly connected to the automobile. Our cities and suburbs are designed around the use of the car, and it seems like everyone has one. However, not everybody has the economic resources to buy a car. Without a car, the lack of public transportation options separates a segment of the population away from opportunities they otherwise could have capitalized on. A 10-minute drive to the grocery becomes a 30-minute walk. Your job opportunities are limited as you don’t have reliable transportation to and from work. You may not be able to participate in extracurricular activities because you can’t get there. Lack of transportation can isolate you from jobs, your community, and food and other things you need. An investment in public transportation is needed to improve the quality of life in communities, increase economic mobility, and create a more sustainable transportation grid.

            Transportation is a critical aspect of determining our quality of life. Transportation is the process of getting people and things from one place to another. For us to get where we need to be, and for goods to get to the shelves, we must have an adequate transportation grid. A good transportation infrastructure is vital to an economy as people and things must be able to get where they need to be. Infrastructure investments to stimulate economic activity have historical precedent. The Federal Highway Administration stated, "The country urgently needs a modernized interstate highway system to relieve existing congestion, to provide for the expected growth of motor vehicle traffic, to strengthen the Nation's defenses, to reduce the toll of human life exacted each year in highway accidents, and to promote economic development." This message was sent on January 24, 1956, but their main points still ring true. In the 1950s they were focused on interstates for roads, but given the current needs of the 21st century, we must look at more sustainable transportation methods such as buses and trains. A large-scale investment into infrastructure supporting public buses and trains would lead to less traffic, fewer traffic deaths, increased economic activity, and increased quality of life.

A vision for what this looks like is high-speed rail networks connecting city to city, and improved bus routes for shorter form transportation. High-speed rail could connect cities that are normally 2–4-hour drives and turn that into a 45-minute rail commute. Improved bus networks can help improve mobility for those in the inner city. Many of our current bus networks are too infrequent, unreliable, and too dispersed to serve as an effective transportation method for the population. We must also improve our walking infrastructure. In many places, sidewalks and crosswalks are unsafe, inconvenient, and not built for handicapped people. The goal is to build a transportation network comprised of multiple methods that can adequately serve all populations and get them to where they need to be. Somebody should be able to board a train in Lexington, 40 minutes later arrive in Louisville, take a bus from the station to the neighborhood they’re going to and then walk the remaining distance. With an investment of public money, we can accomplish this and reap many of the benefits it will provide.

Before I begin to analyze the benefits of investing in public infrastructure, I must outline what that spending plan looks like. I will be basing my projections on the study done by the American Public Transport Association. They did a study on the economic impacts of increased spending on public transport. Their proposed investment is an additional 7 billion per year on top of what we currently spend to improve and maintain the public transport infrastructure. By this, they mean bus systems, rail systems, subways, and other lesser-used forms of transport. The money is spent to increase the areas the bus systems travel to and used to increase the frequency of their stops. This will increase the number of people served and the efficiency in serving them. The APTA plan focuses primarily on buses, but spending should also be targeted at rail systems in metropolitan areas, like Chicago’s L train. A metropolitan area has a public transport system that connects the city’s outskirts with the city center, helps unify the city and community, and promotes economic and social activity in the city center. APTA’s plan estimates that for every $1 billion spent, there will be $5 billion in returns in increased economic activity. This shows that public transportation is an economically viable benefit that pays for itself.

When talking about public transportation, it is important to recognize the social impact it has. When designing a public transport grid, it is important to think about equity, and serving the communities that most need the service. Historically, investments in public transport have been inequitable and have left primarily minority populations underserved. Dan Zukowski, in his article published by Grist titled, “Mobility Justice: How cities are rethinking public transportation after COVID” states, “In U.S. urban areas, 23 percent of Black people and 15 percent of Latino residents use public transit, compared to just 7 percent of white people. Buses are the most-used form of public transit, yet from 2010 to 2019, less than 8 percent of the money spent nationally on transportation went to bus lines”. These statistics show us that minority populations are more dependent on public transportation, mostly because of economic reasons. We have done a poor job in designing our public transport systems, leaving minority populations behind. The same article from Zukowski states, “According to an ongoing study from the Transit Center, a New York-based advocacy group, Black and Latino residents in Washington, D.C. can reach just 62 percent of the jobs available to white residents within 45 minutes using only public transportation.” This disparity in access to transportation makes it harder for minority populations to have access to the same jobs, education, healthcare, and food that white communities have. In this way, we can see how inequitable investments in public transport can further divide the access to opportunity and economic successes of different races. When we think of future investments in public transport, we must keep social justice in mind during the design phase so that we can better serve the communities that need it.

Still before analyzing the benefits that public transportation investment brings, it is important to look at who will pay for it and why they should. The answer to who pays for it is a combination of federal, state, and local governments. Indirectly this means paid for by the people with the taxes we provide. It is a popular notion that the purpose of government is to promote life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In this sense, it is not a reach to suggest the government should invest in public transport. Public transport improves the life, liberty, and happiness of our communities by providing safer options, more mobility for those without cars, and increased community engagement by connecting people with the resources they need. Investing in public transport improves the quality of life, which is what our tax dollars should be spent on. It is also not a sunk cost, the APTA estimates of $5 billion in return for every $1 billion spent makes this economically feasible as well. Another important point is that rides should be free at the point of service. Public transportation should be fully funded and not rely on rider fares for operation. Abigail Hess, in her article for CNBC, found that many times fare collection systems were more expensive than the fares they collected. They also found that by having no fare to ride the bus they saw ridership increase by about 20%. Public transportation serves our most economically vulnerable populations, and by having no fare it helps serve them better. It is also important to note that increasing ridership, also reduces the per-passenger cost and environmental impact. There is also a certain form of dignity that comes with being able to get on and off a bus without having to dig out coins. It is a public service that we’ve all paid into and have a right to make use of.

Having introduced what an investment in public transportation means, I can begin to analyze the benefits of it. One of the largest benefits is an increase in economic activity. When analyzing the economic benefits, I will be looking at the APTA study on the Economic Impact of Public Transportation Investment. They state that investment in public transport will lead to significant economic growth in both the short term and the long term.  Under their plan of sustained investment, public transportation quality and rider share would increase, supporting the growth of the national economy. They estimate $5 billion in benefits for every $1 billion spent. This is made up of $3 billion in productivity cost savings, and $1.8 billion supported by the pattern of public transport investments. They estimate a ratio of 49,700 jobs per $1 billion spent on public transport. The money invested in public transport goes to improving existing lines and then sustaining operations. This creates jobs in the building of the infrastructure, as well as in the operation of the service. By providing viable public transport options, many people may feel empowered to use their car less or to sell their car entirely. APTA estimates there to be $11.7 billion saved amongst households in-car operating costs. This is shown through less gas usage, less maintenance, or selling the car entirely. It also provides those without a car a viable alternative to taxis or ride-sharing services. Given the option of a $15 taxi, or a free bus ride, most will take the free bus ride, keeping more money in our community’s pockets to spend on other things.

A massive benefit of a public transport investment is job creation. Creating jobs is a popular political policy, as well as a smart one. Jobs provide people with a source of income and a source of dignity and purpose. Having a job leads to a higher quality of life than not having one. The reality of today is that many people cannot get jobs they are qualified for because they lack the necessary transportation. The job may be a 15-minute drive away, but if you don’t have a car, that means a 45-minute walk. If the job is not close to a bus route, or the bus doesn’t come at the right times, you have no choice but to walk or pay for rideshare services. Rideshare services can cost $10 a ride, and if you're only making $10 an hour at work, then the first and last hours you work are meaningless as you spend that money getting to and from work. This limits your earning potential and your economic mobility. Many would say to just get a car, but the reality is that isn’t economically or practically feasible for many people. Cars are expensive, and the cost of gas, maintenance, and insurance can be too much for many people. Public transportation helps alleviate this need and provides opportunities for people who can’t afford a car to still get to the places they need to be. Say you’re looking for job opportunities in the area. There is a job 1 mile away that pays $10 an hour. There is a job 15 miles away that you qualify for and pays $15 an hour. You would want to take the job that pays $15 as it has a higher earning potential. But say you didn’t have a car, and there wasn’t an existing bus route that goes close by. In this situation, you may turn down the higher-paying job simply because you don’t have the resources to get there and back. In this example, we can see how a lack of infrastructure can hold back our communities from reaching their full potential. By adding more bus routes that better connect our communities, that individual can be empowered to take the higher paying job

The accessibility of jobs is another factor in the economic differences between black and white Americans. Christian Weller’s article, “African Americans Face Systematic Obstacles to Getting Good Jobs” states, “African American workers still face more hurdles to get a job, never mind a good one, than their white counterparts. They continue to face systematically higher unemployment rates, fewer job opportunities, lower pay, poorer benefits, and greater job instability.” While this issue has lots of factors affecting it, one of the largest is access to transportation. First, we must look back into history to see how we got to where we are today. Neighborhoods in communities were historically segregated. This happened through government practices such as redlining, which led to discrepancies in housing prices and the makeup of race in neighborhoods. These systematic practices led to outcomes where black populations lived in predominantly poorer neighborhoods and whites in richer neighborhoods. When it comes to public transportation, there has been a history of building infrastructure that supports white neighborhoods while neglecting the black ones. Because of factors such as household wealth and car ownership, black families are more likely to rely on public transport than white families. However, the transportation infrastructure we have is not built to equitably serve the population. There was too much emphasis on the white neighborhoods and not enough on the minority neighborhoods. This meant that the white population had access to the transportation and opportunities that came with it. While not entirely at fault, this systematic process has played a factor in black populations having less economic opportunity. With an investment in public transportation, we have a chance to right our wrongs and create a more equitable transportation grid that serves those who need it most.

With an investment in public transportation leading to more job creation, we must look at the benefits of more jobs. There are numerous benefits associated with a low unemployment rate. Yale researcher Harvey Brenner states, “High unemployment rates increase mortality and low unemployment decreases mortality and increases the sense of well-being in a community.” They determined that there is a direct correlation between unemployment rates and mortality rates. This means that as more people get jobs, fewer people die. Jobs provide a source of income, stability, and purpose that overall increase the quality of life in an individual. Low unemployment rates mean consumers have more money to spend, and businesses are incentivized to raise wages as fewer people are looking for work. While not solving the unemployment problem entirely, a public transportation investment would give many people jobs in the manufacturing and operation of this infrastructure.

Public transportation investments also improve the quality of life in the communities it affects. The Institute for Child Success analyzed a mother and daughter in Greenville, South Carolina, to see how the lack of public transport affected their life. “This mother and daughter leave home, walk to the bus stop, take that bus to the terminal, switch buses, and go across town to the little girl’s school. After dropping off her daughter, the mom waits for an hour for the next bus to do it in reverse. In the afternoon it’s a repeat of the morning routine.” In this example, the infrequency of the bus route causes lots of wasted time in the mother’s day. This is time that could be spent working, running errands, going to the doctor, etc. From the beginning of their day, they must wake up earlier than others to make the bus for their long commute. This means less sleep which negatively impacts their life. The time spent on the bus also impacts the child’s academic potential. Because of this lost time in commute, she has less time to do her homework, hang out with friends, or do other things important to a child’s development. In this case, the insufficient public transportation system hinders her quality of life and opportunities.

When talking about quality of life we must address economic mobility. The Institute for Child Success states, “Economic mobility is the capability of individuals or families to improve their economic status; the ability to “pull yourself by your bootstraps.” Poor economic mobility is indicative of systemic issues that relegate people to poverty, despite the actions they take to improve their quality of life, including attaining higher education. Children born into communities with low economic mobility face systemic obstacles that restrict academic achievement, financial stability, and overall health.” When we talk about improving quality of life, it typically refers to improving your financial position. As a society what we want to avoid is limiting economic mobility. We don’t want the systems we have in place to be working against people, we want it to support people and empower them to be economically successful. Part of improving economic mobility is achieved through improving public transportation. It connects people with educational and job opportunities that can be used to advance themselves. We must redesign our systems to be more equitable to give everyone a better chance at economic mobility.

Handicapped and other vulnerable populations are also reliant on public transportation services. Whether their disability prevents them from driving or other reasons, many are dependent on riding the bus to get where they need to go. It also must be considered what the sidewalk infrastructure around bus stops looks like. There should be adequate and safe sidewalks that connect the bus stop to likely destinations such as the grocery store, doctors, schools, etc. Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying, “A civilization is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” His quote means that it is the government and society’s job to take care of its most vulnerable population. As a society, it is important to do this because of community compassion, and you never know when you will be the one needing assistance. In short, it’s the golden rule, treat others how you want to be treated. In the case of public transit, this means buses and trains being handicap accessible. Most importantly, the sidewalks around bus stops need to be improved to better accommodate handicapped people.

There are some cities and communities that have expanded their meaning of public transportation and have begun offering more specialized services. In Genese County in Michigan, the mass transit authority offers a ride to wellness (R2W) program. Ride to wellness is a program where users can request same-day service to drive them to the places they need to be. Usually within 30 minutes, residents can be picked up and taken to the grocery store, doctor, school, laundromat, or any other place. Primarily used by senior citizens, disabled, or other disadvantaged communities, it has also been expanded to include veterans. This example shows that communities can reimagine what public transportation means and come up with specialized services that serve the needs of their community. Ride to wellness in Genese has been a huge success. In 2019, 61% of trips served users in need of dialysis and other medical requests; 34% of trips provided access to grocery stores, pharmacies, and non-profit agencies; and the remainder of the trips provided access to water distribution sites. The ride-to-wellness programs fill gaps in the broader public transit system and allow users to schedule specific stops. By providing better access to grocery stores, pharmacies, and non-profit agencies, ride-to-wellness riders collectively save $32,000 per month. It is also estimated that hospitals and medical providers save $62,000 per month due to reductions in no-show appointments. It also creates more job opportunities, with ride to wellness employing 150 unionized employees.

Given the needs of the 21st century and a desire to stop climate change leads us to another benefit of public transportation: it is more sustainable. With the carbon emissions and pollution growing, we must look at new ideas for how to reduce our carbon footprint. For data on carbon emissions, I will be referring to the American Public Transportation Association’s study, “Public Transportation Reduces Greenhouse Gas and Conserves Energy”. To stop the effects of climate change, we must attempt to get our emissions levels to a net zero. Cars are currently a big polluter, and part of our efforts to get to carbon net zero should include alternatives to cars. Buses and trains, especially as technology advances and buses can reach zero emissions, are great, sustainable alternatives to cars. They do not serve to entirely replace the car but to serve as alternatives and reduce our dependency on them. Public transportation reduces greenhouse gas by combining multiple drivers into one vehicle. A bus full of 20 people will emit less carbon than 20 cars driven by those people. While widespread systematic change is needed to fully address climate change, we can do small parts ourselves to help. APTA says that “A single person, commuting alone by car, who switches a 20-mile round trip commute to existing public transportation, can reduce his or her annual CO2 emissions by 4,800 pounds per year, equal to a 10% reduction in all greenhouse gases produced by a typical two-adult, two-car household.” By providing people with the option to take public transportation, we are empowering them to make environmentally smart decisions.

By reducing our reliance on cars, we can reduce our gasoline usage and thus reduce pollution levels. APTA states, “Transit is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. In addition, public transportation reduces energy consumption by the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline each year, the equivalent of 320 million cars filling up—almost 900,000 times a day.” To set ourselves up for a carbon net zero future, we must begin to invest and build the infrastructure needed to make that happen. In the case of transportation, that means providing more eco-friendly bus routes, designing bike and pedestrian-friendly walking spaces, and high-speed rail. These three things work in combination with each other to provide a transportation system. High-speed rail is a more sustainable option for medium and long-distance travel than airlines, buses are more sustainable for short distances than cars, and walking or biking gets you that last distance. To set ourselves up to be successful in a more sustainable future, we must begin to build this infrastructure now.

A form of public transportation that must garner more priority is high-speed rail. High-speed rail shortens travel times, improves safety, and is more sustainable than our current transportation methods. A high-speed rail network designed like our interstate system, where it connects from city to city, would have numerous benefits.  According to Project Drawdown, “High-speed rail reduces carbon emissions up to 90 percent compared to driving, flying, or riding conventional rail, and is the fastest way to travel between two points that are a few hundred miles apart. High-speed rail also helps build in resiliency and needed redundancy to face the impacts of climate change, such as when planes are grounded due to severe weather.” High-speed rail does not entirely replace our existing transportation options but provides a more sustainable and convenient experience. High-speed rail will massively improve short to medium-range travel. Long flights such as Los Angeles to New York will still exist, but many short routes such as New York to Washington DC could be entirely replaced by high-speed rail. It is safer, cheaper, more convenient for the consumer, and more sustainable for the environment. Replacing plane flights with train rides will reduce our carbon emissions. If we are serious about reducing carbon emissions while maintaining our way of life, High-speed rail is a must-have for a more sustainable future.

Investing in public transportation will increase the number of riders, thus reducing the number of cars on the road. This comes with lots of benefits such as less traffic, increased safety, and increased fuel efficiency. With fewer cars on the road, those using the road will notice improved traffic flow. APTA estimates this decreased congestion to save $800 million annually. This comes from business operating cost savings associated with reliability. They also estimate that business productivity gained from access to broader labor markets with more diverse skills, enabled by expanded public transit service areas and reduced traffic congestion, will yield $1.2 billion annually. The business impacts of reduced traffic are large and lead to lots of saved money. Public transport is also safer than driving a car. APTA says that it is ten times safer per mile than traveling by car because it has less than a tenth of the per-mile traffic casualty (injury or death) rate as automobile travel. This means that as more people ride public transit, our roads become less congested and safer to use. There is a direct correlation between policy choice and saving lives. It also has precedent, as one of the reasons for the interstate highway project was to improve highway safety. Just as we were looking to improve safety back then, we should be looking at ways to improve it now.

Public transportation can also play a vital role in nourishing the life of a city. A citi’s layout and design play a big part in how that city operates. How far apart and connected communities are, where business centers are located, and what transportation methods are available can play big roles in determining the success of a city. To highlight a successful example, I will be looking at the Chicago “L” train. The L train is a series of tracks that are on elevated platforms that connect the city of Chicago. There is a city center that the tracks loop around and then sprawls outwards from the center to the city’s edges. Attached is a map of the Chicago L train network.

            A problem that a lot of cities have is that they lose the urban core of their city. They don’t have a strong city center that provides a focal point and identity that the population can unite around. The city is too spread out and lacks adequate transportation to get people from place to place. This leads to a separation of neighborhoods, where different sectors of the city are isolated and don’t interact. This can generate hostility and lead to gangs and violence which is never a good thing. Chicago too dealt with many of these issues, and still does. However, the L train network helps to alleviate many of them. The design of the L train creates a city center. The area inside of the loop, the part where the tracks make a full square around, is the center of the city. By having the tracks extend outward into all directions, even if you lived in the outskirts, you are just a train ride away from having access to the city center. This fosters economic activity, community, and culture in the city. You can get from one side of the city to the other side, completely by train. This also alleviates traffic issues the city might have. Less cars are driving around in the city because the L train is the preferred option. It is easier to ride the L into the city than it is to drive, find and pay for parking, etc.

The L train also connects to the airport, which helps to foster tourism and business travel. It is a great idea to have public transportation coming from the airport, as it helps connect the entire transportation grid and provides the last leg of travel for that person. The Denver airport also has a shuttle service leading to the city. Their airport is about 45 minutes from downtown, and many people flying in don’t want to rent a car, so the shuttle provides another option for them.

Chicago also has a large population struggling with poverty. The existence of the L doesn’t alleviate this issue completely, but it does provide critical accessibility for many at-risk populations. With the city being connected by the tracks, job opportunities are greater as you do have the means to get around town. It provides at-risk populations access to the services they need, such as grocery stores, doctors, and schools. It also improves safety in the city. Rather than walking everywhere, especially dangerous at night, it can be safer to ride the L. While still not a luxurious experience, this enclosed and lit-up space is much safer than out on the street. The L train also provides Chicagoans with a piece of identity. The elevated railroad tracks are part of the city’s history and culture. It is something communal that everybody benefits from, and that has a way of bringing the population together.

Other cities could learn from Chicago’s L train example. Many cities are rapidly growing and dealing with traffic congestion issues in their interstates. They have many commuters who live in the suburbs but commute into the city for work. These cities experience nightmare rush hours, where interstates are gridlocked with traffic. To alleviate their traffic problem, these cities should look at public transport solutions like the Chicago L train. They need a public transit system that can bring people from the suburbs and outskirts, into the city center.

            One city that could be greatly improved with public transportation is Houston. Houston is a booming city center experiencing lots of growth. With that growth has come a traffic nightmare. I will be looking at data from understandinghouston.org to understand their traffic problem. They say that Houston’s say their number one issue with the city is traffic. They also have issues with street safety and traffic accidents. Population growth and car ownership growth have grown rapidly and now are larger than the capacity of the roadways. Congestion occurs because there are too many vehicles on the roadway. This contributes to decreased productivity and decreased fuel efficiency. Understanding Houston estimates the cost of congestion to be $1490 per vehicle per year. This congestion also decreases safety and leads to more accidents. According to data from the Texas Department of Transportation, the three-county Houston area has more crashes per 100,000 people than the state of Texas. In 2018, the three-county Houston area experienced 2,437 motor-vehicle crashes for every 100,000 people, compared to the state average of 2,184 per 100,000 people. Houston has a higher rate of accidents because of improper design and improper public infrastructure. An investment in public transportation in Houston would save money and save lives.

            The map of Houston shows us that there is potential for a similar system to the Chicago L train to be implemented in Houston. In this case, the map shows us the interstate system instead of the train system. The philosophy is the same, having a city center that it circles and then spreads outwards from that. In this case, Houston is struggling with congestion problems. There are too many people trying to drive on these roads at the same time. Many of these people are just commuting to work, driving in, and driving back out at the end of the day. By providing a public transportation alternative to the interstate, Houston can get more cars off its roads and decrease its congestion problem. By investing in high-speed rail systems, Houston can connect its city center with the suburbs. The easiest way to reduce traffic is to simply reduce the number of cars on the roads. The easiest way to get cars off the roads is by giving people a viable alternative to driving. If the rail service is competitive in its commute times, many commuters will choose to ride the train instead of driving. Given the choice of sitting in traffic, versus riding in a comfortable train car where you don’t have to actively be driving, many will choose the train car. For those who still don’t want to use the train, there will be fewer cars on the interstate leading to decreased congestion. Overall, Houston stands to benefit a lot from investing in public transit. They can increase productivity, save lives, and improve quality of life by investing in public transportation.

            Despite the numerous benefits that public transportation brings to society, there are many opponents of an investment. Critics argue that these systems attract few riders, are low-quality services, can’t replace cars, or are too expensive. Critics essentially argue that spending on public transportation does not bring in enough benefits to warrant the cost. I would say that is untrue, that the numerous economic and social benefits would be worth it. As I talked about earlier, APTA estimates a $1 billion investment to bring about $5 billion in benefits. These benefits are in the form of productivity increases and cost savings, as well as the social benefits of providing people with access to transportation. To critics who say it costs too much money, I would say that systems like this are exactly what tax money should be spent on. We are talking about spending American taxpayers’ money to improve American infrastructure to better support the American quality of life. Public transportation is exactly the kind of public policy we should be investing in.

            Opposition to public transportation also comes from a long history of influence in our culture from car manufacturers. America and the car are intrinsically linked together because of the way we designed our cities. Most major cities have an interstate running straight through them, and wide busy city streets in the interior. Most of our space is dedicated to roads and parking lots. American culture Is very tied to the car, and many Americans are attached to theirs and wouldn’t want to give them up. Historically, there has not been much public transportation support in America. Car manufacturers lobbied Congress and local governments to not build public transit projects. Thus, as America boomed in the 1900’s, it boomed on the wheels of the car, not the wheels of the bus. Most Americans today grew up in the car and haven’t had much experience with public transit. They are hesitant to use it and often have a negative perception of it. Part of needing to invest in public transit is a need to shift the conversation about public transport from being seen as ineffective and low class, to being seen as a useful tool for our society. If investments are made and properly implemented, I believe this stigma will change as users will try out public transit and see that it is a quality service.

            Having looked at the many benefits that public transportation brings to society, it is now clearer than ever the need for America to build infrastructure that supports its most vulnerable populations. As economic inequality rises, it is important to provide social support systems to empower people with new opportunities. Public transportation makes economic and social sense. It will improve productivity and provide cost savings to households and businesses across the country. Socially it will provide disadvantaged communities with access to opportunities that were previously unavailable. It makes environmental sense as it is a more sustainable mode of transit than having tons of cars on the road. It is safer for society and leads to fewer accidents and deaths. Public transportation is providing the backbone to support our economy and population to be successful. As time continues, the problems that public transportation helps solve will only get worse. We need to act now to provide the infrastructure that supports us in the coming years. An investment in public transportation brings about many economic and social benefits that are needed to support our communities and empower our population to live the best life that they can.

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