Two Problems With The Mass Transit Plan

There are two big problems with mass transit, writes WSJ columnist P.J. O'Rourke: Nobody uses it, and it's far too expensive.

1 minute read

March 17, 2005, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"The new transportation bill, currently working its way through Congress, will provide more than $52 billion for mass transit.

There are just two problems with mass transit. Nobody uses it, and it costs like hell. Only 4% of Americans take public transportation to work. Even in cities they don't do it. Less than 25% of commuters in the New York metropolitan area use public transportation. Elsewhere it's far less--9.5% in San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, 1.8% in Dallas-Fort Worth. As for total travel in urban parts of America--all the comings and goings for work, school, shopping, etc.--1.7 % of those trips are made on mass transit."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

FULL STORY: Mass Transit Hysteria

Wednesday, March 16, 2005 in Wall St. Journal

Transportation United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Learn More

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.