Transit In the News

A new California Public Interest Research Group study says San Diego and other cities need to accelerate public transportation options. The report says more federal funding is needed to move local transit projects off the drawing board. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The CALPIRG report says more money needs to be invested in public transportation, such as high speed rail and buses. CALPRIG's Erin Steva says reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our reliance on imported oil are two reasons to develop more public transit. She says reduced traffic and improved safety are other reasons.

Steva: San Diego is one of the most congested cities in the nation and so this is something people are dealing with on a day-to-day basis. Than in addition there's safety issues. So car accidents claim more than 40,000 American lives each year. And rail and bus travel is a much safer way to get around.

She says a recent study of a proposed statewide high-speed rail line shows that 90-million people would ride the rails and leave their cars at home.  A bond measure to fund a 700-mile high-speed rail line may be on November's ballot.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.