Transit Subsidies

Public transit plays a unique and important role in an efficient and equitable transportation system. Planners must communicate the benefits that public transit provides and respond to ill-informed critics.

March 5, 2024 - Todd Litman

Contrary to some arguments, public transit networks with higher government subsidies have higher ridership and more farebox revenue.

February 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

The program issued ‘mobility wallets’ to 1,000 residents who took over 67,000 trips.

January 16, 2024 - Next City

On-demand services can’t scale successfully without massive government subsidies, and could obscure the impacts of car-centric sprawl.

December 20, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

On-demand microtransit is gaining popularity with transit agencies, but is it at the expense of existing service?

November 1, 2023 - Governing

Ridership data shows that many D.C. transit users depend on the service, despite a drop in ridership. The system needs changes—and funding—to have a future.

September 26, 2023 - Greater Greater Washington

A proposed bill would distribute $100 in transit fare to District residents and provide $10 million to improving bus and streetcar services in underserved neighborhoods.

September 28, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

On March 1, Luxembourg will be the first country in the world to make all its public transit free to ride.

February 25, 2020 - Tom Scott on YouTube

All of the country’s buses, trains, and trams will be free starting next year in a move to help residents struggling with the cost of living.

February 6, 2019 - BBC

The 2019 New York City budget includes $106 million to subsidize half the transit fare for qualified residents for six months. The city joins the ranks of Seattle, Toronto, and the Bay Area that offer income-based discounts for transit fares.

June 13, 2018 - The New York Times

Research suggests that transit subsidies produce minimal social value when combined with congestion pricing and dedicated bus lanes.

March 17, 2015 - London School of Economics and Political Science - American Politics and Policy Blog

Public transit that serves rural communities is no less essential to the everyday needs of their users as those systems that serve cities. So, why do some states seem so eager to cut subsidies to rural transit providers?

July 2, 2013 - Rooflines

Not only are transit systems subsidized, but so are America's roads. While some advocate for the reduction of road subsidies to better incentivize transit use, Josh Barro argues for more effective ways to make mass transit work better.

July 15, 2012 - City Journal

Josh Barro offers his take on the charge, oft resorted to by transit advocates, that subsidies for road maintenance encourage driving. Instead, he argues, we should turn our attention to the mechanisms that make it hard for transit to compete.

July 3, 2012 - The Washington Examiner

Transit rider and Good reporter, Alissa Walker, describes some simple solutions for making transit safer.

May 17, 2012 - Good

A proposal in L.A. to use recently approved funding to push 30 years of transportation projects into the next decade has elicited a protest from the city's Bus Riders Union.

September 1, 2010 - Streetsblog L.A.

"Blueprint America" looks at declining public transit subsidies and resulting transit service cuts. The video and report follows two East Bay commuters on suburban bus, BART; the transit agency meeting where bus service is reduced; MUNI LRT footage.

March 20, 2009 - PBS-The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer