The purpose of transit is not to decrease traffic congestion. Because of induced demand, the capacity freed up by shifting drivers to transit will quickly be snapped up by new drivers. However, that does not mean transit is not beneficial: more transit means more people move through the city more efficiently.

I didn’t clearly understand this until hearing it discussed on episode 15 of the Look Both Ways podcast with David Zipper and Wes Marshall. Such an important point. I know I’ve often advocated for more transit as a way to decrease traffic congestion, and as they point out, this is often glossed over. We should empasize the benefit of better mobility without promising less congestion, even if that’s a tougher sell.