USA PUBLIC TRANSIT, CAR CENTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, & RACISM

I did some reading and took notes on the above subject, and decided to collate them all on here for easy access in case anyone else is interested. Bullet points under each link are points I found particularly important in regards to public transit.

Table of Contents

Why Public Transit?
Car Centric Infrastructure + Racism
Further Reading

Why Public Transit?

www.apta.com/news-publications/public-transportation-facts

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

45% of Americans don’t have access to public transportation

SAFETY

ENVIRONMENT

www.remix.com/blog/8-benefits-of-public-transportation

IMPROVES COMMUNITY HEALTH

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

FUEL EFFICIENCY

REDUCES AIR POLLUTION

EQUITABLE TRANSIT

IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY

www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20210630.810356

EQUITY

HEALTH EQUITY

www.transportation.gov/mission/health/Expand-Public-Transportation-Systems-and-Offer-Incentives

Car Centric Infrastructure + Racism

Infrastructure in the USA has been used as a tool to perpetuate segregation and racial/economic disparities. A prime example of this is in our transit infrastructure, both roads and public transportation
By increasing public transportation and funding it better, we can provide better opportunities for low income and Black communities, helping to repair the disparities in our country.
I can recall something about bridges being deliberately designed to not fit buses, making it harder for low-income families and POC to access places, but I haven’t found a source that confirms that so take it with a grain of salt.

www.projectivorytower.org/post/racism-in-american-infrastructure

HIGHWAY ACT OF 1956

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-infrastructure-has-historically-promoted-inequality*

*this also talks about other forms of segregation in infrastructure, i’m taking notes on the road/transit based parts

Further Reading

t4america.org/2021/10/20/say-hello-to-induced-demand/

transfersmagazine.org/magazine-article/issue-9/spreading-the-gospel-of-induced-demand/

engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2020/09/11-racial-inequity-infrastructure.html

texasimpact.org/2022/06/the-unsustainable-reality-of-a-car-centric-united-states

csengineermag.com/we-need-to-talk-about-systemic-racism-in-infrastructure

kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/racism-has-shaped-public-transit-and-its-riddled-inequities

thephiladelphiacitizen.org/systemic-racism-infrastructure/