The Washington tragedy on the Red Line vividly demonstrates the potential horrific consequences of underinvesting in transit. Our 7 largest rail networks, according to an FTA study that the New York Times reported on, suffer from under-investment. It would take $50 billion to bring these 7 largest systems (responsible for the bulk of rail ridership in the nation) to a state of good repair.
The 7 (New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco) combined make up the bulk of transit ridership in the nation and thus provide the bulk of economic benefits from transit. That means investments in these transit networks derive disproportionate benefits, especially because they are so underinvested in currently. $50 billion! That’s a lot of money.
That’s also an opportunity to unite the riders and drivers of those regions in a national campaign. Investing in these 7 largest transit networks is a huge opportunity for economic growth — sustained economic growth for decades to bring them to a state of good repair — and we should be organizing and mobilizing riders and beneficiaries of these networks to make the case for a major investment in transit.
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