One of the foundations of a thriving city is its ability to provide an efficient public transit system. For decades, the United States has lagged behind other countries in terms of transportation infrastructure and transit options, but as the country looks into the future, Americans in an online forum are looking ahead to what cities they believe will have the best chance of becoming transportation hubs in the coming decades.
1. Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota
Although most of the infrastructure in the area is still car-centric, the Twin Cities has taken steps to improve public transport by passing a law that requires the state to build out transit before expanding highways. A commenter adds, “The effort being put into the new lines and the upgraded local bus routes is really good for NA. This last election cycle brought a new legislature to MN, and transit has been given dedicated funding for the first time.”
2. Los Angeles, California
L.A. is an enigma wrapped in a paradox; its staunchly green population lives in the most traffic-choked city in America. Thankfully, public transport plans are set to transform the City of Angels forever. Within the United States, Los Angeles has a very ambitious expansion plan with brand new metro lines.” Add to this Elon Musk’s Hyperloop and California’s High-Speed Rail line, and the most populated state’s transit problems are set to end.
3. Houston, Texas
Houston has a tempered ambition, planning a major expansion primarily through Bus Rapid Transport (BRT),” reveals a Houstonian. “They’ll have the longest BRT line in the country, at 25.3 miles.” Another commenter interjects, saying BRT has much potential but needs more distance. “The Silver Line is great, but the ridership is still struggling,” says the local.
4. Atlanta, Georgia
While Georgians are renowned for their warm, laid-back hospitality, their capital city is moving forward with much-needed transit expansion. “It’s not going to be at the top of the list, but Atlanta is at least starting to take some steps in the right direction,” claims an Atlantan commenter. “They’re breaking ground on their first BRT line soon.”
5. Seattle, Washington
In the late ’90s, the world was racing about living in Seattle. First, its vibrantly iconic music scene put the Pacific Northwest city on the map; then came Microsoft and The X-Files. The city’s Tech Heaven moniker has worn off lately, though it remains a tech startup center. “In the next 30 years, they are planning on massively expanding their light rail system despite all the delays,” says a resident. “Also, multiple BRT lines and streetcar extensions in Tacoma will massively change the area in the coming decades.”
6. Merced, California
“Despite being tiny, it will be the northernmost stop on the initial California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) line and is in the plans to be part of the Valley Rail/ACE Rail expansion,” claims the next thread leader. “Together, these projects will mean that Merced will have significantly improved intercity transit options.” Investing in Merced real estate looks like a great idea right now.
7. Dallas, Texas
DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) in Dallas is currently building the Silver Line connecting Plano, Dallas, Addison, and Carrollton to the airport,” a Texan native teaches us. They are also planning a second line downtown to improve the capacity of the system.” Texas cities are growing exponentially, so making huge plans is a necessity. “Dallas is definitely taking a ‘build it, and they will come’ approach,” adds another writer.
8. San Francisco, California
“I don’t know if this will be the best, but the Bay Area will hopefully be much better connected in that timeframe,” says a hopeful San Francisco Bay resident who details imminent projects such as CAHSR, subway links, and the new ferry system plans. “It’s about even odds that none of those are done in 20 years anyways.”
9. Miami, Florida
The Gateway to Latin America is renowned for its party atmosphere and decadent nightlife, though not its public transport system, which one Miamian promises will change. “Miami is getting ahead by expanding its metro system to reduce congestion and suburb frequency and extending its Metromover cars,” says the Floridian. “Not to mention that they just built their first train end station in the center of the city.”
10. Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City already has a decent transit system, and a proposed Boise—Salt Lake City—Las Vegas passenger rail line will open up the American West to millions of potential visitors. It’s easy to overlook stuff happening in tier two or three cities in the U.S. because they don’t have massive ridership numbers or huge metros,” claims a Utah man. “But Salt Lake has a genuinely great transit system for a city of its size.”
11. Camden, New Jersey
I recently covered Camden as being an undesirable American city to live in. However, things could be set to change. “If a new tunnel between Camden and Philidelphia happens,” a New Jersey resident hypothesizes, “Southern New Jersey could really explode with restarting old lines.” We can all live in hope, especially those people living there.
How does transit look in your city in the future?
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