Mass Transit

Out transit system has a huge impact on major issues like traffic congestion, air quality, carbon-emissions, noise pollution, and more. In the most simple terms, mass public transit has so many benefits to society it must be expanded dramatically and treated as an inherent public good.

Here are some of the benefits of public transit:

• Reduction of car-reliance, which reduces traffic and space required for parking.

• Encouragement of biking and walking both of which have known health and safety benefits.

• Reduced auto-related fatalities which are a growing and unacceptable problem.

• Save money by avoiding/reducing insurance premiums, gasoline costs, maintenance, and repairs.

• Reduced drunk driving related collisions, injuries, and deaths.

• Reduced burden on the healthcare system through better lung health, fewer auto-related injuries, and increased exercise.

Here are some ways to increase public transit usage and decrease car dependency:

• Expand public transit coverage through more vehicles, routes, and drivers.

• Expand transit hours and frequency.

• Increase transit reliability and punctuality by providing bus lanes and developing rail-based transit that does not compete with car traffic.

• Invest in public alternatives to popular ride and vehicle share services like Uber, Lyft, and Lime bike/scooter rentals as a means of providing alternatives to vehicle ownership.

• Improve transit cleanliness, comfort, and safety.

Fare-free public transit

Fares, as flat point-of-use fees, are an inefficient and regressive way to raise revenue to pay for public transit. Fare collection slows down transit service, requires expensive additional infrastructure, and creates problems related to enforcement.

Fare-free public transit simply uses our perfectly good system of taxes and tax collection to raise all of the money needed to fund public transit. Like roads, fire departments, and libraries, public transit ought to be a service that is made as widely available for use to as many Washingtonians as possible.

Fare-free public transit is already a reality in Washington's capital city of Olympia.