Staff Reports
The liberal stronghold of mass transit is in big trouble, and it’s no wonder, given their track record of inefficiency and wasteful spending! According to S&P Global Ratings, the public transit sector is about to hit rock bottom, which is no surprise to anyone paying attention. The so-called “challenges” for mass transit operators have been piling up, despite over $70 billion in federal aid doled out during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is just more evidence that throwing money at failing government programs doesn’t solve anything!
While other sectors, like airports, toll roads, and even parking operators, have bounced back from the pandemic, mass transit is lagging behind. Their ridership is stuck at a measly 77% of pre-pandemic levels, showing that the American people are fed up with the slow, unreliable, and costly public transportation options forced upon them by the government.
Outlook for public mass transit remains dim | National | https://t.co/igI45idd2f https://t.co/GgPylFlgus
— Brett Rowland (@rowland_reports) February 15, 2024
S&P’s latest report suggests that U.S. mass transit is going to be the outlier in the mobility story, with heavy regional commuter rail-only systems facing even lower ridership due to remote work trends. Imagine that, the American people preferring the freedom and convenience of working from home rather than dealing with the hassle of the failing mass transit systems!
The report does mention some bright spots, but it’s clear that mass transit agencies are going to have a tough time replacing fare revenue as former commuters continue to work from home. And the fact that transit ridership was already declining before the pandemic just shows that these agencies were in trouble long before COVID-19 hit.
Even taxpayer-funded agencies with good credit ratings are going to feel the pinch, as sales tax growth slows and fares continue to decline. In Chicago, for example, the Regional Transportation Authority is considering 11 tax and fee hikes, including congestion pricing, a vehicle miles traveled tax, sales tax expansions, and gas tax increases – all of which are just going to further burden hardworking Americans.
It’s clear that the government’s heavy-handed approach to mass transit has failed, and it’s time to shift towards more free-market solutions that actually work. The American people should have the freedom to choose their own transportation options, rather than being forced into an inefficient and costly government-run system. It’s time for individual liberty and personal responsibility to take the wheel!
