What is Transit? Time to Decide!

Transit faces an existential crisis as we emerge from the pandemic. Travel patterns have shifted, in some cases permanently, and transit agencies have seen a substantial drop in ridership. The industry is grappling with fundamental questions around funding and purpose. A major adjustment is needed, but what exactly should that adjustment look like? This paper explores the ways that transit could improve its focus, considering several ideas. One strategy could be for transit to act more like a business and focus on retaining and attracting customers. Another could be for transit to focus on being a public service for those who do not have access to automobiles. A final alternative is to begin by thinking about funding methods and allow that to determine transit’s priorities in each region. Agencies would benefit from moving away from a mix of all three approaches and towards a more focused effort by choosing just one.