Transit in Crisis
Mass transit has always been an afterthought in the US. Sprawling, low-density American land use patterns which replaced the old streetcar villages never allowed it to be efficient. With some short exceptions, such as the development of streetcar villages at the in the early 20th century or the brief period following the
Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as well as the 1991 ISTEA legislation, policies have set on the automobile as the American way of getting around.
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U.S commuter transit in 2025: Slow and
antiquated (Photo: Philipsen) |
In a 2021 study, Texas A&M found that congestion in our 15 biggest cities costs close to $7 billion. Meanwhile, over the past 65 years, the US has spent nearly $10 trillion of taxpayer dollars on highways and roads. Just a quarter of that was spent on public transportation. (Sustainable America)
In contrast to this pattern, many economists and urban planners believe that cities with good transit are more likely to thrive than those without, partly because owning and maintaining a car in a large city is less convenient and more expensive. (
Politico,
APTA). Transit is essential for those who can't drive because they are too young, too old, too frail, or too poor to drive a car. Excluding large parts of the population from mobility is not only......
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[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
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