Sickness of Urban Transit

Archive Report

Threatened Bankruptcy of Mass Transportation

Mass transportation in American cities is a sick industry. In recent years it has had to cope with rising costs, diminishing profits, and steady loss of patronage. Bus and streetcar routes have been curtailed and standards of service have declined. Any worsening of urban transit's present condition would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the industry to carry the expanded passenger load that would be thrust upon it in case of the country's involvement in a major war.

A leader of the industry in the West has said: “Today the country generally is enjoying a continued period of prosperous business activity but transit with few exceptions seems well on the road to the poorhouse … The transit industry is verging ...

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