Transit: the 'it' factor of successful cities

Name one attribute America’s most successful and livable cities have in common besides low crime rates, low costs of living, low unemployment and great opportunities for higher education. And it’s not major league sports franchises, sandy beaches or high-tech business parks.

The “it” factor often overlooked – but necessary for other factors to succeed – is transit.

A successful city’s underpinning is public transportation, whether bus, commuter train, light rail or streetcar. Public transit provides citizens with transportation choices. And, there has never been a better time for cities to build, improve or expand those systems.

The Obama administration has set aside more money for transit development than any other administration in the past 20 years – literally hundreds of millions of dollars waiting to be awarded. The problem is those federal monies require a local match, and many cities, forced to cut basic services, don’t have the cash to ante up their share. However, economically viable cities choose to make funding transit a priority because they realize they can generate multiple, positive economic outcomes with a single investment.
 

According to the American Public Transit Association, for every $1 cities invest in public transportation, they generate $4 in economic returns. Under different scenarios, the overall economic benefits may be as high as 9-to-1.

With strong local investment and the help of federal grants, cities that turn to transit to help solve their mobility issues and spur their economies today will be the successful, livable, desirable places to live tomorrow.

Key questions to address include:

• What funding options are currently available for those cities looking to implement public transportation in their surrounding communities? 

• What are the green benefits of transit and how can they generate additional funding? 

• What benefits can the implementation of a transit system provide communities suffering from high crime rates, high unemployment and high costs of living?

HNTB is working with transit authorities nationwide to improve public transportation and help cities solve their economic and mobility issues.