Matthew Davies Looks at the Best Public Transportation in North America

Posted by James Crown on June 6th, 2019

Introduction

Living in a city which has a good public transport system is not only convenient but can also provide you with many benefits. A good public transport system can reduce your commute time, help you face less traffic and even help you maintain general well-being or be happy. Thus, when my friend Matthew Davies decided to settle in North America, I suggested him to stay in a city which has good public transportation. 

Where Are They?

Let’s look at the cities which have the best public transportation in North America below - 

1. New York City - This might come as a surprise to you but New York indeed tops this list. This city has the most extensive rapid transportation network which is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It has an advanced system of trains, buses, ferries, trains, and the ridership of the city exceeds 2.5 billion people. That’s about 1/4th of the total ridership in the whole country. 

2. San Francisco, CA -  You can travel in San Francisco by riding the traditional rapid train subway network called the Muni, the iconic cable cars, or the buses. These are all operated by the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency(SFMTA). The ridership in San Francisco averages about 220 million/year. 

You can also use the Bay Area Rapid Transit(BART) that connects Berkeley to Oakland. 

3. Boston, MA - Boston has the oldest subway tunnel in the country. You can travel the Boston city by riding the local commuter rail routes or Boston subway. There is also the Massachusetts Bay Transit a.k.a the ‘T’ which consists of trolley, bus, subway, and boat service. Approximately 390 million riders use the ‘T’ system every year. 

4. Chicago, IL - The best way to travel in Chicago is to use the commuter Metro trains or the ‘L’ subway by Chicago Transit Authority. You can also use the red line. Approximately 800,000 people ride the Chicago ‘L’ train system every weekday. In fact, it is the 3rd largest transport system in the country. 

5. Washington, DC - Driving in Washington is a very bad experience due to traffic congestion. The best way to travel in Washington is to hop on any of their 6 color-coded metro lines. You can easily visit the shopping areas, sporting events, museums, and entertainment venues in the city using the metro. 

6. Philadelphia, PA - It is very easy to travel in Philly using the rapid transport system. The 3 primary rail lines in the city consist of the ‘Broad Street Line’, ‘Market-Frankford Live’, and the ‘Norristown High-speed Connector’.  You can also utilize the trolley lines. The local mass transit system in Philly is known as SEPTA. 

7. Atlanta, GA - The best way to travel in Atlanta is to utilize the Marta subway. This is especially true if you live in a suburb of the city or the downtown area. Another option is to hop on in the Atlanta Streetcar which serves 12 important destinations in the city.

Finally

If you are planning to settle in North America, like my friend Matthew Davies, be sure to consider all the pros and cons each city has to offer.