Government Spending on Mass Transit Would Be Incredible for Small Towns, Study Finds

When considering successful mass transportation in the United States, most people envision bustling cities like New York and Chicago. This perception stems from the poor condition of public transit in other parts of the country. However, a study by American and Chinese researchers reveals that federal funding for transit systems could bring world-class rail and bus infrastructure to thousands of smaller cities throughout the nation. All it requires is a simple decision.

The study, published in the journal Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, examined the development of 417 urban areas across the United States from 2010 to 2019. Using three models, researchers measured the effects of different funding sources on ridership and service availability in small, medium, and large metropolitan areas. While federal funding benefits transit systems in cities of all sizes, it turns out to be more effective in smaller, developing transit markets than in larger cities.

In the largest metropolitan areas, an extra dollar generates about one-third as much new ridership as it does in small or midsize cities, according to Kailai Wang, one of the study's co-authors. The researchers emphasize that federal funding is crucial for smaller cities, many of which currently lack alternatives to driving. Investing in transit options for these areas would not only benefit riders but also provide significant benefits to the entire city, including reducing traffic congestion, lowering emissions, and offering an affordable option for low-income residents.

Diverting a small portion of federal tax dollars to support these smaller cities might seem like a sacrifice, but considering that the United States currently spends over $1.5 trillion on war annually, the investment would be well worth it.