Expensive Public Transportation Projects Won’t Survive the Shift to Autonomous Vehicles
Governments need to ensure that long-term investments aren’t undercut by emerging technologies
August 15, 2032:
While browsing through his news feed on the way to his office, John came across a video from a local news station.
“The Charlotte Area Transit System has announced that the Lynx light rail, Charlotte’s 25-year-old public transit network, will be shutting down at the end of the year,” the anchor announced, “citing declining ridership, rising maintenance costs, and an inability to compete with fares from competing ride-share companies. If you’re still a Lynx rider, let us know what you think about the move. And if you object, be sure to join the open hearing on the subject at city hall, this Thursday evening at 6 p.m., through your Charlotte resident app.”
John couldn’t understand the people who refused to switch to autonomous vehicles. They’re fast and flexible and get him to wherever he needs to go without worrying about how far his destination is from a transit station. Even if Lynx ended up getting a reprieve this year, John figured it was only a matter of time before the rest of the city wised up.
