MassINC cites economic toll of insufficient transit funding in Gateway Cities

Inadequate public transit in the state’s designated Gateway Cities, with service gaps for workers and lengthy bus commutes, contributes to labor force participation rates that are well below the state’s average, according to a report released by MassINC on Feb. 26.

Small- to mid-size cities like the Gateway Cities have been particularly affected by a decentralization of jobs over the past three decades, according to the report. The “job sprawl,” combined with inadequate public transit service, means that only a small majority of jobs in Gateway Cities are accessible by transit with less than a 90-minute one-way commute.

The report, “Reinventing Transit: Investing in Public Transportation for Strong Gateway City Economies,” suggests that a proposed increase in funding for regional transit authorities can address this problem if used for service expansion and improvements that are tied to economic growth and supported by ongoing reforms.

Ben Forman, research director for MassINC and executive director of the Gateway Cities Innovation Institute, suggests that state leaders “rethink the role of regional transit as a major driver of economic growth, particularly in Gateway Cities that are primed for transit-oriented development.”

Public transportation commute times in Gateway Cities are twice the duration of vehicle commutes, meaning those who are less able to drive have less access to employment opportunities, according to the report. As a result, labor participation rates in Gateway Cities are 2.5 percentage points below the Massachusetts average. Some cities, such as Pittsfield, are 4 points below.

When the MassINC Polling Group asked whether increasing bus service would make a difference in the lives of people in the community, nearly half of all Gateway City voters say it would make a “major” difference – 10 points higher than voters living in other Massachusetts communities.

The Patrick administration is recommending a $100 million annual increase in state support for regional transit authorities. MassINC’s report suggests this funding could have an impact on short- and long-term economic growth.

The report shows a direct correlation between service expansion and increased labor force participation, as well as longer-term effects such as expanding housing supply, supporting efficient land use patterns, and increasing local consumer spending power.

The report recommends improving transit service quality through new technologies and creating stronger linkages between transportation and land-use planning.

The 24 Gateway Cities, as defined by Massachusetts law, include: Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield and Worcester.

For more information and to view the report, visit www.massinc.org.