http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/stranded-how-americas-failing-public-transportation-increases-inequality/393419/
Transportation is about more than just moving people from point A to point B. It’s also a system that can either limit or expand the opportunities available to people based on where they live. In many cities, the areas with the shoddiest access to public transit are the most impoverished—and the lack of investment leaves many Americans without easy access to jobs, goods, and services.
To be certain, the aging and inadequate transportation infrastructure is an issue for Americans up and down the economic ladder. Throughout the country highways are crumbling, bridges are in need of repair, and railways remain inadequate. Improvement to public transportation—buses, trains, and safer routes for bicycles—is something that just about everyone who lives in a major metropolitan area has on their wish list.
But there’s a difference between preference and necessity: “Public transportation is desired by many but is even more important for lower-income people who can't afford cars,” says Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a professor at Harvard University and author of a new book Move: Putting America’s Infrastructure Back in the Lead.
“Without really good public transportation, it's very difficult to deal with inequality,” Kanter said. Access to just about everything associated with upward mobility and economic progress—jobs, quality food, and goods (at reasonable prices), healthcare, and schooling— relies on the ability to get around in an efficient way, and for an affordable price. A recent study from Harvard found that geographic mobility was indeed linked to economic mobility, and a 2014 study from NYU found a link between poor public-transit access and higher rates of unemployment and decreased income in New York City.
we have heard Pres. for years repeatedly adress the infrastructure problems and congess passing his American Jobs Act with includes that but they refuse to and instead push the big oil agenda of keystone. recent train derailment in Phila., PA perfect example of need to get the country up to par and nor behind every other country in the world will still proclaiming "EXCEPTIONALISM". they like to blame Pres. and too many want to blame someone but never the right one. this is also a benefit to republican agenda of keeping the economy down and those not deemed worthy by them even lower.
if we allow another mistake 2016 no telling when we can recover we won't have Pres. to do it for us that puts the proverbial ball in our court swing or miss at least swing. recognize
