The timeline of public transportation in the United States has transformed over the past 400 years significantly. From using horses to carry messages across the country to the steam locomotive, transportation has come a long way. Being able to cross the country within one week used to be a luxury for many, and now it is a reality. However, there are many areas of modernism in which the United States lacks. Although we are known as a first-world country with luxuries galore, our public transportation system is still behind. Let’s take a closer look at other country’s public transportation systems. The country of Japan is booming with technology. New startup companies and businesses pop up in their capital of Tokyo every year. Large corporations are always looking to expand, and Tokyo is a perfect place to set up shop. Japan’s high speed rail system, which was started in 1964, has 9 high speed rail systems that connect the country together. And to this day, despite being an extremely efficient system that allows millions of people to travel where they wish to, the system is still being developed. Another country that has been able to develop their public transportation system to one that the US should be jealous of is the country Spain. Their high speed rail system, known as AVE, is the longest HSR network in Europe. It stretches for 3,240 kilometers, and connects the entire country of Spain to each other. It is also the second longest in the world, right after China. The system’s ability to transport millions of people across the country within hours is fascinating, and the efficiency of it is grand. The United States has a long way to go in terms of bettering the public transit system. Train systems in California like BART and VTA are becoming more productive each year, but there is a long way to go until it is as efficient as that of Japan’s or Spain’s. In the future, we can hope to see the US High Speed Rail System come to life, connecting the West, East, and Midwest. Citizens’ tax dollars would go to developing the country’s infrastructure rather than going somewhere unnecessary. The United States can do so much better with public transportation, but everyone’s support is necessary in making it happen.
Sources: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-high-speed-rail-development-worldwide#:~:text=The%20first%20high%2Dspeed%20rail,three%20more%20lines%20in%20development. https://www.eurail.com/en/get-inspired/trains-europe/high-speed-trains/ave