Transportation as a Public Good

By Esha Bansiya

As cities have become increasingly disconnected and sprawling rather than dense and urban, accessibility has become a commodity. In the same way education in the form of public schools and libraries are public goods that benefit society, public transport should also be a public good. Mobility as a public right would create a more connected society and bring greater social good. To make public transit a public good, cities and local governments should enact fare-free public transportation. 

The pandemic highlighted the transit inequity many individuals face: while many essential workers were forced to commute every day to work, many others could work at home [1]. At the same time, transit ridership fell by 30%, impacting the revenue for many major transit systems. In response, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass. and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass. have introduced legislation to provide $25 billion in grant money to support local transit systems and help them transition to fare-free programs [2].

The fare-free transit experiment in Boston proved the undeniable assistance fare-free transit provides for low-income individuals, financially and in terms of mobility. The experiment placed on three major lines in Boston reported that 26% of passengers saved more than $20 a month [2]. Without fare-free transit, low-income individuals often limit their transit trips and would rather walk or travel only when necessary [3]. A study from MIT found that low-income riders took 30% more trips, most often to health care and social services, as a result of receiving a 50% discounted transit card [3]. More than financial freedom, free fare transit provided freedom in mobility and access. 

Similarly, the City of Albuquerque adopted fare-free transit. The main reason they enacted the program was to create freedom of mobility for all residents. In a statement after the program launch, they noted that “88% [of riders] live with an annual income less than $35,000 [and m]ore than half of riders come from households without cars…the City of Albuquerque is ensuring that all transit-dependent riders have access to this essential service” [4]. Fare-free transit directly supports low-income individuals by alleviating stress from financial insecurity and lack of mobility. The City of Albuquerque understood the equity fare-free transit would create for all its residents who may not have easy access to needed amenities. 

However, fare-free transit alone would not be enough to support all residents. If the intent of fare-free transit is to make mobility and connectivity equitable, the existing transportation systems must be adequate and connect to all communities. In Los Angeles County, only 27% of residents live near transit that operates at least every 15 minutes [5]. Case studies from Europe emphasize the importance of connectivity in increasing ridership use. In an analysis of fare-free transit programs across different countries, the “most successful examples…have had to increase the supply and frequency of public transport” [6]. Other studies also found that “fare-free

programs increased ridership and travel for individuals who live nearby to a subway station” [7]. For fare-free transit to support its communities, the systems must be well-connected and accessible to all parts of the community. 

Despite the benefits of fare-free transit, many opponents hold concerns against the loss of revenue from going fare-free. However, if transit is seen as a public good, then revenue would become less of a priority. 

Public transportation would be an investment in social mobility. Public transportation provides access to job opportunities, healthcare, education opportunities, and other resources. Studies found that students provided an unlimited ride pass in Minnesota attended school more often. Similarly, access to public transportation impacts “which schools they attend, which extracurricular activities they join, and what internships or work-based learning opportunities they take advantage of.” Transportation bridges an opportunity gap that exists between different communities [8]. Transportation creates a more equitable society that allows every resident to succeed. 

While large transit systems such as the New York MTA may struggle with revenue loss, there are ways to mitigate this. Cities could enact fare-free transit programs for low-income residents. Although these programs require residents to register, signing up for these programs can be coupled with other benefit programs [9]. 

Cities should see public transportation as a public good that would benefit every resident and create a more connected community. Like other public goods, including libraries, healthcare, and parks, public transportation would also develop a more accessible city that allows all residents to succeed.

Works Cited

1. Zukowski, Dan. 2023. “$25B for fare-free transit? Federal lawmakers take third shot at passing legislation.” https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/fare-free-transit-25B-funding-pressley-markey/648503/
2. Meyersohn, Nathaniel. CNN Wire. “Should Public Buses Be Free?” KRDO, July 8, 2023. https://krdo.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2023/07/08/should-public-buses-be-free/.
3. “How Low-income Transit Riders in Boston Respond to Discounted Fares: A Randomized Controlled Evaluation.” 2019. MIT Low-income Fare Study. http://equity transit.mit.edu. 
4. “ABQ RIDE Statistics & Programs.” n.d. ABQRide. https://abqride-cabq.hub.arcgis.com.
5. “AllTransit Metrics.” n.d. AllTransit. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://alltransit.cnt.org /metrics/?addr=los+angeles+county. 
6. International Association of Public Transport (UITP). Full Free-Fare Public Transport: Objectives and Alternatives.Brussels: UITP, June 2023. https://www.uitp.org/publications/full-free-fare-public-transport-objectives-and-alternatives/.
7. Bull, Owen, Juan C. Muñoz, and Hugo E. Silvia. 2021. “The impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial.” ScienceDirect 86 (Jan). 
8. “Urban Institute. “Transportation.” Upward Mobility Framework: Neighborhoods. Accessed June 29, 2025. https://upward-mobility.urban.org/framework/neighborhoods/transportation.
9. Roth, Sara. 2017. “What was TriMet’s ‘Fareless Square’ and should it come back?” KGW. https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/editors-picks/what-was-trimets-fareless -square-and-should-it-come-back/283-451692563. “Should Transit Be Free? Part Two.” 2020. TransitCenter. https://transitcenter.org/should -transit-be-free-part-two/.

Photo Credit: Gellidon, JC. August 15, 2017. https://unsplash.com/photos/train-interior-WUWD5IYsVCg.