Increased public transit will employ our citizens, break the cycle of poverty, and decrease our racial and economic gaps
When thinking of how to build American infrastructure in the early 20th century, industrialists fell into a binary path: the solution either lied in personal cars/large highways, or in public transportation. But, when doing this, they ignored an integral part of American society: lower income and minority communities. While the past might have been dominated by the rich and white, the American present and future couldn’t disagree more. According to the Pew Research Center, public transportation is most likely to be used by younger people, African Americans, Hispanics, immigrants, and anyone who is low income. Further, those in the latter don’t get a choice in whether or not they will take a personal vehicle to get around town, as they likely cannot afford one. Public transportation might be someone’s only way to their place of employment or education, thus their only way out of poverty. Therefore, public transportation development should be supported in the USA because it will help minimize the opportunity gap, fuel economic growth, and help us move closer to eradicating the cycle of poverty.
It might come as a surprise to some that geographical mobility is the single strongest factor that dictates economic mobility. However, after examination, this concept is not far-fetched, and is not too hard to understand. If people cannot get out of their poverty-ridden neighborhoods to jobs that would grant them economic mobility, they will be trapped in an eternal cycle of poverty. According to Harvard economist Nathan Hendren, “The relationship between transportation and social mobility is stronger than crime, elementary-school test scores [and] the percentage of two-parent families in a community”. It is evident that, while many factors contribute to economic mobility, the factor with the greatest direct correlation is the access to transportation for all people, regardless of economic class. Going back to the aforementioned idea that many with lower incomes cannot afford their own personal vehicle, it is imperative that public transportation is prioritized to ensure that all people have the opportunity to advance. With more Americans being given a fair opportunity to maneuver around their local area in search of work, they have a better chance of mitigating their poverty. Tram in Seattle. Seattle is often touted to be the city with the best public transportation in the USA (Source: Visit Seattle)
A 7 Train makes its way from Manhattan to Queens in New York City
(Source: wsj.com) |
Denver Light Rail (Source: Robert Schwandl)
Train station at Seattle/Tacoma (SeaTac) Airport (Source: Visit Seattle)
To continue, the economic impact of an improved public transportation network cannot be understated. As noted by Hasan Minhaj via the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), for every $1 we invest into public transportation, we get $4 in return in the form of economic output. Further, for every $1 Billion dollars invested into public transportation, 50,000 jobs are created, and sustained. With our ever-growing population, the creation of sustained jobs will be crucial to ensuring every American’s right to the pursuit of happiness. With more people working their way out of poverty, our cities will become cleaner, happier and more hospitable. This will not only improve the lives of all people who live in metropolitan areas, but also the lives of international tourists and businesspeople. When a city is known to be easier to navigate, more tourists could choose to add the city to their American vacation, and more corporations will feel comfortable setting up headquarters in an area where their employees and clients are secure in transportation. This would have American regional economies booming, which would help make our cities more competitive on the global stage. With the return on investment from increased public transportation, other public initiatives could be funded down the line, such as community centers, educational opportunities, and improved access to healthcare. Considering public transportation could produce more than $1.8 billion in economic value per city per year, public transit’s economic opportunities are boundless. The economic implications of an advanced public transportation system extend much further than sole individuals, and it is clear that benefits will be felt all throughout an entire metropolitan area, and will ripple throughout the USA as a whole. It is evident that the most inclusive and representative way to manage the arising problem in American mobility is through the installation and improvement of public transportation. Access to public transportation will create jobs, get Americans to said jobs, and break down the class barriers that have become so negatively emblematic of modern American life. Further, more transportation will invite more businesses and tourists to our cities, which will increase the money flowing into them, creating a positive feedback loop that will trickle down to all citizens. Ultimately, public transportation means opportunity, which means freedom; and that is what the United States is all about. |