because America has not kept up with
transit investments have a direct and
immediate effect on the economy. If
workers can’t get to work on time, it
affects their productivity.
When an aging road and rail system
adds time and delays to commutes,
that puts the brakes on economic
output.
“Based on recent surveys of our
riders in Central Ohio, we know
70 percent of our customers rely
on our service to reach work,” says
Joanna Pinkerton, president and
CEO of the Central Ohio Transit
Authority. “This is just one example
of why it is vital to continue
investment in public transportation
infrastructure to support residents
and the economy.”
Pinkerton adds that over the next 30
years, Central Ohio’s public transit
system will have to evolve to prepare
for 1 million additional residents and
600,000 jobs.
The quality of a city’s public
transportation system is an important
factor for companies that are
looking to expand or relocate. For
example, in 2014, Atlanta’s public
transportation system played a role
in State Farm Insurance’s bid to
locate 8,000 new jobs there. One
year ago, when Amazon asked cities
to create proposals for its second
headquarters, the online retailer
indicated that it wanted to hear from
cities with access to public transit.
The good news is, Congress has
allocated a spending increase for the
2018 fiscal year budget for public
transit.
“While this is a positive step forward
in helping to address the nation’s
aging public transit infrastructure,”
Skoutelas says, “this momentum must
be maintained by providing similar
funding levels for 2019.”
NOVEMBER 2018
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