Investment in public transit creates more sustainable NYC

A Newsday article reports that an increase in Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) ridership has outgrown population growth in the New York City region. While the metro population has increased by 7% in the last ten years, the ridership on MTA trains and buses has increased by 36% in the same time period.

MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow offers this explanation.

"Commuters have overwhelmingly responded to MetroCard discounts, new trains and buses, cleaner stations, reduced crime, and better on-time performance."

Clearly the investment in public transportation has caused an increase in ridership and made New York a more sustainable city. Listen up public transit laggards like Minneapolis. If you build it (and keep the price reasonable) they will come.

Now if I could only catch that elusive G train...