by Ian Robinson
Everyone deserves access to reliable, safe and affordable transportation — especially working families who need to make the most of their earnings. Working families rely on public transit, whether they live and work in big cities, small towns or rural communities.
Increasing access to affordable transportation options is key to improving affordability for working families in our community and across the United States. Eighty-nine percent of Americans report concerns about the cost of living. You hear about it wherever you go in our community.
What many people don’t know is housing and transportation are typically the two highest household expenses for most families in the United States. In 2023, U.S. households spent an average of $13,174 on transportation, making it the second-largest annual household expenditure after housing. The significant proportion of household income spent on transportation and housing highlights the financial challenges working families face.
High transportation costs, particularly for those who rely on personal vehicles, combined with housing costs, can limit disposable income and impact overall quality of life.
Enhancing public transit accessibility and affordability would alleviate some financial pressure by reducing the necessity for car ownership and associated expenses. Public transit unlocks freedom of movement in urban, suburban and rural communities in our community and throughout the country.
When working families can count on the bus or train to get where they need to go, they can easily access jobs, education, medical care, culture, goods and services and the daily life of their communities. They benefit from greater economic mobility and lower household costs. Transportation systems that maximize people’s access to good transit are necessarily inclusive, without barriers linked to race, income, age or ability.
The intersection of public transportation and worker rights isn’t often discussed, but it should be. Whether it’s enhancing workers’ mobility or reducing the cost of living, public transit provides substantial benefits to unions and their members.
[Read the rest in the Detroit News]
Ian Robinson is President of the Huron Valley Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and a lecturer at the University of Michigan.