Public transit systems have the power to distinctly shape a city and its trajectory, expanding access to jobs and neighborhoods, and reducing traffic and pollution. New York City is one great example, formed by its extensive networks of subways, buses, and trains. But compared to many other auto-centric cities in the country, New York is an outlier.

Nicholas Bloom, author of The Great American Transit Disaster, argues that car culture was not inevitable, but a choice upheld by voters, their representatives, and policies. In this virtual program, Bloom will examine case studies of other U.S. cities, including Baltimore and Chicago, that speak to the overall disinvestment of mass transit across the country. By looking to the past, Bloom’s research offers insights that could lead to a more public transit-focused future.