Published on November 22, 2023, 2:16 am

In a world fuelled by the “Field of Dreams” mindset, massive expenditure on public transportation is taking center stage at both federal and state levels. For example, the Biden administration is reportedly allocating as much as $108 billion for mass transit, with several states gearing up for mammoth projects of their own. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s established working group recently commented that public transit can act like a magnet in attracting and retaining younger residents.

However, contrary to popular belief, this claims lack solid evidence. Popular amongst the urban narrative is the idea that mass transit appeals greatly to younger demographics – but facts beg to differ. Although surveys routinely show support among younger individuals towards public transportation from a theoretical standpoint, their actual behavior shows clear preference for cars over buses or light-rail systems.

Let’s analyze some reliable sources for context: Even after countless decades of extravagant spending on public transport infrastructure — costing taxpayers billions — only around 3 percent of Americans utilize it regularly for commuting to work as per data gathered by the Census Bureau. In fact, only four states — New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Illinois — have seen this usage surpass 5 percent. Nationwide stats show that individual vehicle use trumps mass transit by staggering factor of 25 when it comes to daily commuting.

Young adults are not an exception either. If we take Vermont as an example – which remarkably has the highest net migration rate amongst 18-29 year olds across all states – only a meagre 0.6 percent of its population takes advantage of mass transit options available to them. This group primarily values aspects such as well-paying jobs or strong community networks over proximity to bus stops or metro stations when choosing where they settle down.

A growing trend also seen amongst millennials is their exodus from cities – where mass transit plays a larger role – towards suburban areas, hastened significantly post-COVID-19 pandemic due to factors such as city-wide lockdowns and escalating crime rates. As per recent reports, between 2019 to 2022, the top fifty metropolitan areas in the United States saw an increase of 1.8 million people moving to suburbs while cities lost a total of 655,000 residents.

In light of these factors, in particular the forced societal adjustments brought about by COVID-19 leading to reduced transit ridership as people left cities for suburbs, it’s crucial that policymakers reconsider their approach towards mass transit. It seems abundantly clear that the current strategy – which essentially involves pouring copious amounts of money into replicating or updating existing systems – is flawed. Continually funding new buses, trains and subways which largely remain underutilized whilst more people opt instead for personal vehicles indicates a wasteful process without much regard for effectiveness or efficiency.

This pertains particularly calculated when considering millennials who are reportedly most interested in contemporary public transportation systems. The grim reality is that America’s transit systems consistently hemorrhage money without adequately addressing true public transport needs. It’s fallacious to presume that expanding further would suddenly revolutionize usage patterns — especially at a ballooning cost.

In conclusion, despite exorbitant funds allocated towards boosting public transportation infrastructure nationwide and persistent claims promoting its allure amongst younger demographics — facts simply do not corroborate these assumptions. A fresh look at planning tactics oriented towards commuter behaviors would be instrumental rather than an unwavering adherence to building more of what already exists.