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The Transportation Research Board, a division of the National Research Council, said that “the existence of a more broadly oriented national or state role in land use decision making is perhaps the single most important factor distinguishing the transit-related policies and practices of Western Europe and Canada from those of the United States.”Further, low automobile and gas excise taxes have compounded the disparity in transit availability by making ownership and maintenance of an automobile in the United States relatively inexpensive.

From a sociological standpoint, availability of public transit can affect mobility between social boundaries such as race and class. According to Thomas Sanchez, author of the article “The Impact of Public Transport on US Metropolitan Wage Inequality,” in the economics of public transit, “demand tends to be a function of socioeconomic characteristics most closely related to income levels (i.e. vehicle ownership rates) and population density. Limited transport mobility is often seen as a contributing factor to unemployment and low-income status.” Consequently, “if transport mobility affects employment opportunity, then income and wage levels should also be positively affected by improved transport mobility."

As a discipline, one of the main focuses of sociology is social equality and in the United States, where the gap between the wealthy and the impoverished is rapidly growing, transit may serve as a mediator for the most disadvantaged. Beyond the social implications of public transit there are environmental factors to be considered.
It is well-known that “the use of automobiles contributes to serious environmental problems including global warming, acid rain, resource depletion, noise pollution, and congestion,” as reported by Jeffery A. Joireman, Paul A. M. Van Lange, and Mark Van Vugt, authors of the article “Who Cares About the Environmental Impact of Cars?: Those with an Eye Toward the Future.”

When it comes to the environmental impact of cars, Sweden has an eye toward the future. In 2005, the Commission on Oil Independence was created to develop a plan to end Sweden’s dependency upon oil and oil products by the year 2020. Parts of the plan focuses on improving the fuel efficiency of private cars as well as improving the public transit system so that it is more convenient, faster, and a better value.

Public transit was an intricate part of my life in Sweden as it was my only means of mobility. Had the public transit not been so expansive, there are many parts of Swedish society and culture that I would not have been able to experience. I think the state of public transit in the Twin Cities is something that should be considered more deeply.

Today, all who are registered to vote in Minnesota have the opportunity to earmark an additional $300 million for public transit by voting yes for the Minnesota Transportation Amendment. The Amendment “will permanently dedicate at least $120 million per year in new revenue for public transit projects throughout the state” according to Minnesotans for Better Roads and Transit, a coalition of upwards of 1,000 groups who support the Amendment.

Currently, 46 percent of the motor vehicle sales tax is used for other purposes; if the Amendment passes, 100 percent of this money will go toward transportation. With more money dedicated solely to transportation in Minnesota, the public will see improved commutes, safer roads, and more transit choices. To reduce the impact of shifting funds away from other programs, the plan would be phased in over five years. If you care about public transit, take the time today to vote yes for the Minnesota Transportation Amendment.

--Malin Ellstrom-Evarts ’07