Public Transit
Recommendation
The transportation needs of citizens should dictate what modes of transportation are used in a public transit system. This seemingly obvious recommendation frequently gets lost in discussions about public transit.
Background
North Carolina transit systems have become less about transportation and more about creating communities that fit the vision of planners. Transportation policy is too important for much-needed resources to be expended in a manner that has nothing to do with transportation.
Developing an effective public transit system
Transit is a mobility provider. The proper role of transit is to provide mobility for customers. As transportation expert and University of North Carolina at Charlotte professor emeritus Dr. David Hartgen argues, transit systems should not be viewed "as saviors of urban problems."
Unfortunately, transit has become less about mobility and more about centrally planned communities. Instead of transportation meeting the needs of the community, the community is changed to meet the needs of a specific mode of transportation, such as rail. This "tail wags the dog" philosophy often is referred to as "transit-oriented development."
A quote by Charlotte-Mecklenburg planning director Debra Campbell in the June 2007 edition of Governing is illuminating and chilling:
"We always saw transit as a means, not an end," says planning director Debra Campbell. "The real impetus for transit was how it could help us grow in a way that was smart. This really isn't even about building a transit system. It's about place making. It's about building a community."
Privatize when possible. The government should eliminate existing regulations that make it difficult for private modes of transit to develop, such as private shuttles.
Spend a proportional amount of money on transit. One of the most striking developments in the state's transportation policy is the disproportional share of proposed spending on transit (see chart below). Spending should be commensurate with how much individuals actually use transit.
Avoid the "romance of rail." Transit improvements, such as better bus systems, are not as "exciting" as building shiny new trains. However, rail is a poor way to meet the needs of transit riders. As the table below shows, the market share of rail even in high-density areas is remarkably low.
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