The Link Between Transit Access and Employment

Inadequate access to transportation hinders many Americans’ access to job opportunities.

1 minute read

February 12, 2024, 8:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Colorful streetcar on street in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

Streetcar in Detroit, Michigan. | Leonid Andronov / Adobe Stock

An article by Elijah Taub of Capital News Service highlights the link between transportation and employment, noting that “Lacking access to transportation is a significant barrier to employment, especially in rural areas and small towns.”

Zeroing in on Michigan, Taub adds that owning a car is 12 percent more expensive in that state than the national average, putting Michiganders at a disadvantage.

Susan Corbin, the director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, says Michigan doesn’t have a strong public transit system. “Michigan is 40th in transportation, including public transit, commute time and road and bridge quality across the country, according to U.S.News & World Report rankings.”

Like other systems around the country, Michigan’s transit agencies face labor shortages and budget shortfalls that prevent them from providing more effective service.

Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Capital News Service

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