10.3 Equitable and High Quality Transportation Access for All
Residents who rely on public transportation are at the mercy of specified routes and timetables as well as the presence or absence of amenities including heat, air conditioning, seats, shelters, and accommodations for persons with disabilities. The quality of these amenities greatly affects the rider’s satisfaction with the service.
The difference between a short walk on a well-maintained sidewalk to catch a comfortable train or bus, and a lengthy, high-friction trip translates into a gain or loss of time and stress—important factors affecting the quality of urban life. Most people prefer to have a range of transportation options—from walking and biking to driving or taking public transit. Some people have more limited choices, however, and depend on public transportation for work, educational advancement, shopping, socializing, and civic engagement.
A high level of comfort and safety brings seniors, families with children, and people with special needs into the system. Transit quality and safety also protects school children, who depend on public transportation for mobility and access to school and extracurricular activities. When streets are safe, there are more walkers and bicyclists, resulting in less traffic, better quality of neighborhood life, and more “eyes on the street.” When public transportation is of high quality and serves both residential and employment centers, more people use it. This creates a virtuous cycle: attracting more passengers can justify increases in service frequency, thereby further improving service.
Issues of equity in quality, safety, and access must be weighed when investment decisions are made. Ideally, the most transit-dependent individuals and communities would be the best-served.
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