The Case For “Free” Public Transportation

Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash

Public transit across America is in crisis. The New York subway may have to cut service to 40% of pre-pandemic levels. The Washington Metro is threatening to remove late night service…again…as ridership hovers around 80% of pre-pandemic levels.

It doesn’t have to be like this. Public transportation is not a luxury for individuals and it is not a luxury for cities. Yet it is often treated as…