Transit is essential. It’s how we get to health care appointments, parks, school, and work.
Essential workers, small businesses, and under-served communities throughout the country depend on transit. Transit is a key component of economic opportunity, jobs, and a more environmentally sustainable society — and it’s a road to equity for disconnected communities.
But from coast to coast — in big cities and in rural areas, in red and blue states — transit agencies are facing massive budget shortfalls and reducing service. And recent actions by the Trump administration — from Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the federal government to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy threatening to withhold key federal funding — will worsen a bad situation.
Transit is always essential. But that’s particularly true in times of great economic uncertainty, like we’re currently experiencing.
When people can count on the bus or train to get where they need to go, they can easily access jobs, education, medical care, culture, goods and services, and the daily life of their communities. They benefit from greater economic mobility and lower household costs.
Transportation systems that maximize people’s access to good transit are designed to be inclusive, without barriers linked to race, income, age, or ability. But for too many Americans, a lack of transportation can be a significant barrier to job opportunities.
Public transit serves as a lifeline to affordable, reliable access to workplaces. By ensuring a robust public transportation system, we can create pathways for workers to secure, stable jobs.
Transit is much more than just a means of getting from point A to point B. It’s a crucial tool for leveling the playing field for working families, ensuring they have the mobility, financial security, and opportunities necessary to thrive.
