Financing Urban Transportation

Transportation is a field in which the civil engineer has long performed a notable service. Current (1965) urban transportation problem sad demands are economically, politically, socially, and technically complex. There is, therefore, a necessity for the civil engineer to join with other disciplines in planning, building, and operating urban transportation systems. Financing is undergoing changes in policy and attitudes. Urban transit systems generally can no longer be wholly financially supported from fares; some form of public subsidy is required, regardless of whether the transit system is publicly or privately owned or operated. This subsidy is most often supplied through general revenues of the urban area government, or from state sources. Adequate financing of construction and operation of urban area transit systems is aided materially by the creation of a suitable areawide organizational structure with the necessary legal authority to act. Current activity in Massachusetts, New York, Seattle, Wash.; Chicago, Ill.; and the San Francisco Bay Area is based on some form of public financial assistance to improve the urban transportation system.