Transit on the brink

09/27/22 • 38 min

America’s transit system is struggling. How do we fix it?

A D minus. That’s what the American Society of Civil Engineers gives US transit infrastructure for a grade. There’s a $176 billion repair backlog across the country; nearly half of the population doesn't have access to any transit; and only 5% of US workers use a train or bus to get to work.

Ridership on transit was already declining even before Covid hit. Today, it's still not anywhere close to where it was before the pandemic. Meanwhile, Americans spend more and more on transportation.

In our first episode of ModeShift, co-hosts Andrei Greenawalt and Tiffany Chu talk with experts about the state of transit – exploring the history of transit’s decline, and the economic and environmental impact of car dependency.

Guests:

Transit expert Jerome Horne
Peter Norton, associate professor of history at the University of Virginia.
Beth Osborne, director of Transportation for America

Listen to ModeShift on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

America’s transit system is struggling. How do we fix it?

Ridership on transit was already declining even before Covid hit. Today, it's still not anywhere close to where it was before the pandemic. Meanwhile, Americans spend more and more on transportation.

Guests:

Transit expert Jerome Horne
Peter Norton, associate professor of history at the University of Virginia.
Beth Osborne, director of Transportation for America

Listen to ModeShift on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Previous Episode

Introducing ModeShift

The modern American economy was built for cars. Outside of major cities, most of us depend heavily on cars to get everywhere. Not having access to one can put a person at a serious disadvantage.

So what will it take to change the way we move around? Can we develop a new transportation framework that cuts dependence on personal cars and creates more options for everyone?

Join hosts Andrei Greenawalt and Tiffany Chu as they dig into the forces that are holding our transit system back — and the forces that could unleash it.

Subscribe anywhere you get podcasts.

Next Episode

The politics of reshaping transit

Breaking our car dependence and reinvigorating our public transit system is not straightforward. It is a complicated and politically controversial process.

But a new generation of political leaders is working to reform how we invest in mobility options at the federal, state, and local levels.

In this episode, Andrei and Tiffany explore the longstanding obstacles to improving the quality of our transit systems — and how bold leaders are pushing the envelope to improve mobility for Americans.

Guests: