Bill Overview
Title: Resilient Transit Act of 2022
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to provide grants to assist states and local governments in financing public transportation resilience improvement projects that increase the resilience of public transportation systems from the impacts of changing conditions, such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters.
Sponsors: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Target Audience
Population: Users of public transportation systems worldwide
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill focuses on improving the resilience of public transportation systems.
- The impacts of climate change and natural disasters such as sea level rise, flooding, wildfires, and extreme weather events are increasing.
- Urban populations are heavily dependent on public transportation, especially in cities with significant public transit infrastructure.
- The bill will likely affect individuals living in areas where public transportation is a primary mode of commuting and transport.
- Public transit systems serve billions of passengers annually worldwide, therefore improvements in resilience potentially impact billions of users.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on improving the resilience of public transportation systems, which is critical in urban areas where many residents depend on transit for their daily commutes.
- The budget limitations of $500M in the first year mean only a subset of high-impact projects can be funded initially.
- Rural and suburban areas with less reliance on mass transit will likely see minimal to no impact from this policy.
- Accounts for varying levels of impact on public transit users across different demographics, such as students, working professionals, and the elderly.
- Urban populations in climate-vulnerable areas like coastal cities will exhibit greater interest and derive more significant benefit from the policy.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (New York City, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving the subway's resilience is critical for uninterrupted service.
- I worry about flooding stopping trains.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Bus Driver (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hurricanes can flood roads and cut off bus routes.
- Securing funding to protect routes from flood is necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Retired (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Safer infrastructure in earthquakes is needed.
- Supports policy focusing on transit resilience for accessibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
College Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Flooded buses delay getting to class; improvements are welcome.
- Would feel better if the policy passed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 3 |
Teacher (Columbus, OH)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of resilience projects, but I don't use transit often.
- Funds could be used elsewhere for direct personal impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Nurse (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Resilience in light rail is crucial, especially after winter storms.
- This policy can improve my daily commute significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Public Transit Advocate (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy aligns with long-term transit needs.
- Boosts readiness against wildfires and floods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Bartender (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving bus and streetcar resilience is necessary.
- Flood preparedness is crucial for livelihood security.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Marketing Specialist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transit is key during heavy snowfall.
- Policy can support operational continuity in harsh weather.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Freelance Writer (Denver, CO)
Age: 37 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transit resilience projects are important, but not critical to me.
- General support for climate action, happy to see funding here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $520000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $620000000)
Year 3: $540000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $640000000)
Year 5: $580000000 (Low: $480000000, High: $680000000)
Year 10: $650000000 (Low: $550000000, High: $750000000)
Year 100: $900000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1000000000)
Key Considerations
- The resilience of public transportation systems is critical for urban areas facing climate change threats.
- The funding level might need adjustment to fit the diverse needs of state and local agencies and their specific environmental challenges.
- Coordination between various levels of government and private sector partners will be crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of new infrastructure projects.