Brian Taylor, a UCLA urban planning professor, Janno Lieber, CEO of New York's MTA, and Michelle Wu, the Mayor of Boston, discuss the future of public transit. They debate the complex question of making public transportation free, detailing its potential to enhance economic opportunity and social mobility while benefiting the environment. Insights include the impact of fare-free systems on ridership, equity, and innovative funding solutions. The conversation challenges traditional views on transportation financing and sheds light on efforts toward climate justice.
Public transit is vital for environmental sustainability, economic opportunity, and social mobility.
Free public transit can promote economic mobility, racial equity, and climate justice.
The effectiveness of fare-free public transit depends on balancing social equity, environmental benefits, and service improvements.
Deep dives
The Importance of Public Transit in New York City
Jan O'Lebre, chair and CEO of the MTA in New York City, highlights the significance of public transit in the city. The MTA operates the subways, buses, commuter railroads, and bridges/tunnels. New York transit is priced between 10-15% the cost of owning a car, making it affordable for many residents. Before COVID, the subway system had 5.5 million weekday riders and an additional 2 million on buses. While only 25% of the MTA's budget comes from fares, public transit is seen as vital for environmental sustainability, economic opportunity, and social mobility.
The Case for Free Public Transit
The argument for free public transit revolves around its positive impact on the environment, economic opportunity, and social equity. Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, advocates for free public transit as one of the most significant steps toward economic mobility, racial equity, and climate justice. Public transit accessibility is linked to a family's ability to escape poverty, and lowering transit fares can help low-income individuals access medical appointments and essential services more often. While there are concerns about the costs and implications of free transit, pilot programs in Boston and New York City are being tested to evaluate the impact on ridership and overall benefits.
The Complexities of Fare-Free Public Transit
The discussion on fare-free public transit involves various factors that need to be considered. Brian Taylor, a transportation researcher at UCLA, explains that the goal of transit systems differs, with public transit serving both those who can't drive and those who prefer not to in busy areas. Balancing social equity and environmental benefits is crucial, and offering more service and reliability rather than simply making transit free may be more effective. The context in which transit operates is significant, with different cities and regions having varying demographics and transportation needs. Congestion pricing and means-tested discounts for low-income individuals are alternative approaches being explored alongside fare-free transit.
The Impact of Fare-Free Transit Pilot Programs
Several cities, including Kansas City and Boston, have piloted fare-free transit programs to evaluate their impact. Robbie McEnin, former president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, initiated fare-free transit in Kansas City. The program saw significant operational savings due to faster boarding and alighting, reduced fare enforcement incidents, and improved access for low-income and homeless populations. Similarly, Mayor Michelle Wu's pilot program in Boston eliminated fares on specific bus lines, leading to increased ridership on those routes. However, experts emphasize the need to balance the costs, potential service disruptions, and unintended consequences of fare-free transit initiatives.
Considering the Future of Public Transit
The future of public transit involves carefully weighing the costs and benefits of various approaches. Experts argue that prioritizing affordability and improving service frequency, reliability, and speed are key factors for increasing ridership and addressing social equity concerns. While fare-free transit has gained attention, Brian Taylor suggests that focusing on properly pricing automobile usage and managing demand alongside transit improvements may be a more effective strategy. Each city's unique context, including transportation needs, demographics, and environmental factors, should be considered when assessing the feasibility and potential outcomes of fare-free transit initiatives.
It boosts economic opportunity and social mobility. It’s good for the environment. So why do we charge people to use it? The short answer: it’s complicated. Also: We talk to the man who gets half the nation’s mass-transit riders where they want to go (most of the time).
SOURCES:
Marcus Finbom, traffic planner in Stockholm, Sweden.
Robbie Makinen, former president and C.E.O. of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.
Janno Lieber, chair and C.E.O. of the M.T.A. in New York City.
Brian Taylor, professor of urban planning and public policy and director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at U.C.L.A.
Shashi Verma, director of strategy and C.T.O. at Transport for London.
