A recent article in The Guardian described the “death spiral” looming for public transit in the United States. Country-wide, the pandemic has resulted in a 90% drop in ridership. This has led to cuts in services—which means even less ridership—and higher fares to make up for lost revenue. Higher fares lead to fewer riders…which means more higher fares, more cuts in services, or both. And so on. You see where this is going.
To save public transit, Congress may have to fill a $32 billion funding gap...but no funding package currently exists. Transportation advocates also warn that cuts in services exacerbate a “mobility crisis” that already existed for our cities’ most vulnerable people.
This article prompted a lively conversation on this week’s episode of Upzoned, with host Abby Kinney—an urban planner in Kansas City—and cohost Chuck Marohn, president of Strong Towns. Abby and Chuck discuss why the mortal danger facing public transit was always going to be an option when you overlay a dysfunctional transportation system on a dysfunctional land-use pattern, why public transit is a long-term investment in people, and how the U.S. subsidizes automobiles too. They also discuss whether making the “compassionate argument” may unintentionally undermine transit advocates’ case for public transportation.
Additional Show NotesPublic transit faces 'death spiral' without $32bn injection from Congress, by Miranda Bryant
Abby Kinney (Twitter)
Charles Marohn (Twitter)
Gould Evans Studio for City Design
Theme Music by Kemet the Phantom (Soundcloud)
Some recent Strong Towns articles on public transit
“The Only Thing More Expensive Than Saving Transit is Not Saving Transit,” by Daniel Herriges
“In Transportation Costs, ‘It's the System, Stupid,’” by Daniel Herriges
“What the Left Gets Wrong about Public Transportation” (Podcast)
“Transit’s Chicken & Egg Fallacy,” by Chuck Marohn
“Why Development-Oriented Transit is better than Transit-Oriented Development,” by Rachel Quednau
This Man Overcame Homelessness by Building His Own Tiny Home…on Hollywood Boulevard!
What Does the ”Airbnbust” Mean for the Housing Market?
This Seattle Highway Is Facing a $29 Million Financial Crisis
We Need More Housing—But Also More People Who Can Build More Housing
Yes, Getting Rid of Parking Minimums Is Good for the Climate—But That’s Just the Tip of the Iceberg
We Have Plenty of Land in the United States. But Can All of It Support Housing?
The Paris of the Plains Can’t Afford Its Fountains Anymore
E-Bikes: The Frankenstein’s Monster of Transportation?
Professional Engineers: Speak Up. The Stakes Are Life and Death.
New York’s New Experiment in Fighting Gridlock
The ”Other Story” of Buffalo
Water Wars in the Modern Wild West
TxDOT Proposes to Dig a $1 Billion Infrastructure Grave in Downtown Dallas
State Preemption: A Means To Reform Zoning, or a Threat to Localism?
Looking for an Affordable Starter Home? HUD Suggests Trying a Manufactured Home.
NIMBY: Hero, Villain, or None of the Above?
Inflation or Lower Housing Values: Pick Your Cleanest Dirty Shirt?
Uber’s Bull Run Is Over, Says CEO
Corporate Investors Own Nearly Half of This City’s Residential Property
Philadelphia Is Launching the First Public Bank Owned by a City
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Advocacy Scoop Podcast
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon