Transit funding hits record highs as ridership languishes, new report questions return on billions

"A new report is raising fresh questions about whether billions in federal transit spending are delivering results, as funding climbs to record highs while bus and rail commuting remains below pre-pandemic levels. Released by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity, the analysis argues the disconnect reflects structural flaws in how federal transit dollars are allocated - particularly as remote work reshapes commuting patterns and budget pressures intensify."

""Transit's commute market share in the U.S. has dropped from 12% in 1960 to under 4% in 2024," Cox told Fox News Digital. Today, roughly 3.8% of American workers - about one in 25 - commute by mass transit, according to Cox's analysis of federal data. By comparison, three times as many Americans now work from home. While transit use has edged down, 88 million more Americans drive to work than in 1960, the report notes, alongside a 17 million increase in remote workers."

"Cox argues transit struggles to compete with the automobile on speed and access. "Generally, transit travel times are slower than commuting by car," he said. The average one-way commute is about 26 minutes by car, compared with 48 minutes by transit. The report also highlights disparities in job access. Researchers examined how many workplaces a person could physically reach in a 30-minute commute. Because cars offer direct, door-to-door travel, drivers can typically access far more job locations than transit."

Federal transit spending has climbed to record highs while bus and rail commuting remains below pre-pandemic levels. The federal transit program originated in the 1960s to expand mobility for low-income residents and reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Transit's commuter market share fell from 12% in 1960 to under 4% in 2024, with roughly 3.8% of workers now commuting by mass transit and three times as many working from home. Transit travel times average about 48 minutes versus 26 minutes by car, reducing competitiveness. Cars provide access to far more jobs within a 30-minute commute. Since 1960, 88 million more Americans drive to work and remote workers increased by 17 million.

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