Improving the Public Transport Infrastructure: Benefits to the Economy

Economic development and transportation are related with each other. Economic development increases transportation demand if there is an increase in the number of workers commuting to and from work, customers traveling to and from service areas. If Public transportation system in the economy is well developed, the price of public transportation is affordable to the population of the country. This will result in further economic development to in economy.

Moreover, flourished public transit system in the economy creates a lot of job opportunities. In Michigan; roughly around 4000 jobs are created for every 100 million invested in the public transit system. If they are more job opportunities in the economy, it would provide a lot of benefit to the economy, such as extra collection of income taxes which can be spent on the infrastructure of the country. (Get Michigan Moving) Unemployment ratio would be less in the economy, so the government would not have to provide unemployment benefits, which now can be used for some other purposes.

However, some editors believe that investment in public transit system is an ephemeral issue to save the environment and encourage the demand for using of public transportation. Owen McShane, director of Centre for Resource Management Studies in New Zealand believes that most drivers do respond to increase in gas prices and have another alternative, but the problems is public transport takes longer time to reach final destination. Hence despite the fact they use cars as their main alternative. In addition, McShane argues against investing in rail road networks and emphasizing investment in building more roads and motorways. If more roads are built it can be shared by buses, trucks, vans, cars, taxis, sh...

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...ure of Chicago Transit Authority bus and train services. Firstly, governments needs to ensure frequent, fast and direct transit services of busses and trains at peak times such as the morning and afternoon, where most of the individual goes to work and return back home from work, so that passengers don’t have to wait for a long time. If there are no express services provided it will result delays in commuters arrive at their destination. Moreover, train stations and bus stops should be located near communities with high unemployment and poverty rates to provide access to jobs. Low income people are highly dependent on public transport services because they can’t afford to own and drive a car. If the government prioritizes investments in neighborhoods where they need it most should have a great impact on their investment by generating more revenue by increasing fares