The World Cup’s Transit Surprise: A Tale of Two Americas

The US’s surprisingly smooth public transportation during the World Cup has sparked a long-overdue conversation about the country’s addiction to cars and its infrastructure priorities. Cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, and Kansas City demonstrated that they can build new buses, trams, and trains with remarkable speed when it suits them – even if only for the duration of a major sporting event.

This success contrasts starkly with the nation’s overall car culture, where tens of millions more cars than people vie for space on the roads. Americans spend an average of 42 hours per year stuck behind the wheel, and they’re nearly five times as likely to die in a car accident as someone in train-friendly Germany.

The World Cup’s success in showcasing public transit benefits is undeniable, but it also raises questions about whether these cities can sustain their momentum. Many host cities still view public transportation as an add-on rather than a fundamental aspect of urban planning. As Eric Goldwyn of the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management notes, “They’re building it as a ‘cutesy-patootsie complement’ to the car culture.”

The LA Exception

Los Angeles stands out from the pack in its commitment to public transit infrastructure and rebranding efforts. Under the guidance of MoveLA’s Eli Lipmen, the city has invested heavily in building new trains, buses, and subway stations, while overhauling its public safety approach to tackle issues like crime and substance abuse on the metro system.

The results are encouraging: a 6.7 percent drop in violent crime on transit and a 33 percent decrease in incidents like drug use and weapons possession. LA’s efforts have also helped shift the cultural narrative around taking the train, with its cheeky “Ride the D” shirt campaign becoming an unlikely symbol of its transit revolution.

Can We Learn to Love Transit?

The success of LA’s public transportation system during the World Cup is not just a testament to the city’s efforts but also a reminder that Americans can change their habits. As Lipmen puts it, “People who were quietly riding transit all of a sudden felt comfortable in their own skin as a transit-rider, and proud to be a transit-rider.”

The question now is whether this momentum can be sustained beyond the World Cup’s aftermath. Can cities like New Jersey, Kansas City, and Atlanta replicate LA’s success and create truly integrated public transportation systems? Or will they revert to their old ways when the spotlight fades?

The Harder Question

As host cities begin to dismantle their temporary transit infrastructure, it’s clear that the harder question remains: can these cities keep up the momentum when it serves locals, not just visitors? In Kansas City, for instance, the cash-strapped transit authority has already shut down its extended tram service and plans to slash a quarter of its regular bus routes by summer.

The World Cup may have shown us that US cities can build new buses, trams, and trains faster than we think. But it’s also highlighted the stark contrast between our car culture and the public transportation systems of other developed nations. The real test now is whether Americans are willing to learn to love transit – not just for its convenience or efficiency, but as a fundamental aspect of what makes a city livable.

In the end, the World Cup may have been a surprising winner in terms of public transportation, but the true victory will be when cities like LA prove that they can sustain this momentum and create a more equitable, people-centric transportation system for all.