Transit Systems Are Big Success Stories

Everyone knows the price of gasoline is going up and up and up. It’s $4.28 a gallon here on Maui and while it might not be that bad on the U.S. mainland, it’s still hurts because people drive more and over longer distances there.

But along with the increase in the cost of gasoline has come an increase in the use of transit. More and more people everywhere across the country are turning to subways and trains and buses for their commutes to and from work. For example:

New York City subways – up 6 percent.
New Jersey transit – up 5 percent
Caltran (San Francisco, Santa Clara) – up 9.3 percent
Denver transit system (photo above) – up 8 percent
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach – up 20 percent
Charlotte – up 34 percent

And — who woulda thought it? — it’s even happening in Los Angeles, where ridership has exceeded all projections.

In Hawaii — more specifically, in Honolulu — thanks to Mayor Mufi Hannemann, a transit system is finally moving ahead after two near-misses in the past. Mufi is a true-believer and, to his great credit, he has pressed hard for the project, steam-rolling over a nitwit faction on the Honolulu City Council.

Despite the nitwits – who, alas, will always be among us – the tide has turned and it sure looks like the U.S. is ready to hop on a train like the rest of the world. And about time, too!