The Failure of Public Transportation in Autocentric Metropolises
There is no doubt that New York City boasts one of the nation’s top public transportation systems, with its extensive subway lines and MTA bus routes. Growing up in Queens, NY, I was exposed to this efficient service as I could quickly get from point A to point B almost anywhere within the 5 boroughs, costing only $2.75 with a MetroCard. Moving to a smaller, suburban town in Long Island, NY, I realized that this public service was now the lesser preferred alternative that was even scrutinized by locals. Whereas public transportation is seen as a norm in the urban city, in the suburbs and a vast majority of the nation, mass transit is viewed as an economic burden and a rather unthinkable method of transportation. Beyond its poor reputation, public transportation takes on an inefficient and time-consuming manner in non-urban communities. In the city, I could reach my destination 3.4 miles away in 13 minutes using public transportation. Now, I must leave my house 35 minutes early to reach my destination 2.3 miles away if I am to use the same public service. What has accounted for these stark differences in the same public transportation service and is there any way to reconcile these differences?
Simple observations reveal that we have sprawling, auto-centric metropolises that just can’t be easily served by public transportation. This can be traced back to the suburban boom in the United States in the 1950s when the car became the dominant mode of transportation. However, “when riders started to switch to the car in the early postwar years, American transit systems almost universally cut service to restore their financial viability” (Bloomberg CityLab). This drove more people away, producing a vicious cycle until just about everybody who could drive, drove. Unfortunately, those who still depend on public transportation in these areas — either because they don’t own a car, are not eligible to drive, or simply prefer relying on mass transit — are the victims of automobile emphasizing societies.
Attempting to solve this lack of public transportation problem raises many economic questions. How much do cities spend at maintaining their current transportation operations and how much would it cost to implement better public transportation? To truly find potential, viable solutions to this issue, I must look into whether the social benefit of these improvements will outweigh the economic costs. It is equally important that I consider where these improvements would benefit the most, as many local governments lack the supporting funds and support to improve public transportation services in all neighborhoods that emphasize driving, especially in suburban communities.
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