The Economics of Public Transport

• NDUMBA J KAMWANYAh RESIDING in Rhode Island, a state different from that of Massachusetts where I was studying at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMASS Boston) in the USA, my transportation was daily public transport.

Those were the good old times of my studies for a MA in conflict studies, MSc. in public policy, and a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in public policy.

My trip to school involved being dropped off (depending on what time my classes start) at the nearest train station to catch the next available train. Of course, sometimes I drove and parked my car at the train station.

The train commute to Boston took me to South Station where I transferred to an underground subway to get off at the UMASS Boston stop. From there I would take a UMASS Boston bus to the university campus

It took me two hours going and returning. That of course was on a good day where the train was not delayed. In the train, I would read, do assignments, listen to music, converse with the next passenger or just sit quietly in my own space.

It turned out that public transport, while living and studying in the USA, would be my dominant mode of travelling – for leisure, vacation, visiting friends, attending conferences, work and so forth.

On my train/subway commutes I met people of all walks of life going about their daily lives with public transport – students, workers, business people, people on vacation/leisure, the rich, the poor, middle class and the upper class or just anybody who is anybody.

Americans also refer to public transport as public transit or mass transit, which is basically a government-operated (through municipalities), shared transport service that is available for use by the general public. These include commuter rail trains, city buses, trams, underground subways, ferries, airlines and so forth.

Usually, US public transport systems operate on a fixed schedule with a prearranged timetable. But what made it effective and efficient is its frequency, which roughly is a train or a bus about every 10-20 minutes.

Taking public transport in the USA is very safe, and relatively cheap because it is subsidised by the government at federal and state level.

By American and European standards, the US’s public transportation is perhaps not on par, but still a vital part of that country’s national economy, as an increased number of Americans today are relying on public transport instead of their own private cars or flying.

According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), in 2016, Americans undertook 10.4 billion trips; 23.5 billion trips in 2014 and 10.7 billion trips in 2013. That is a smashing record for a nation that is known for its love of cars!

Yes airport is also a public transport, but the claim that expanding Hosea Kutako Airport (HKA) would propel economic growth, create massive employment and boost tourism is an exaggeration that is not based on evidence. Show me the numbers!

Nor is the airport – in this case one airport – enough to fund our developmental and social welfare programmes as Alfredo Hengari seemed to argue the other day on social media.

I am not saying that we should develop a massive public transport system that equals the USA or any country. All I am stating is that we, in Namibia, are better off investing in infrastructure that directly impacts the lives of the people like public transit systems. Ninety-nine percent of Namibians use road traffic as a mode of transport as opposed to the 1% of Namibians who fly.

The benefits of a public transport system are manifold and directly linked to the lives of citizens. A good public transit system is one that connects and links citizens to productive places such as market centres, historical sites, airports, entertainment venues, schools and health centres.

With an integrated public transport network of roads and railways, more Namibians in urban and rural areas will have the opportunity to improve their standard of living; they will travel safely between home and work; getting their children to and from school; and travel for shopping, business or entertainment.

Public transport is crucial to the liveability of any country. The social, economic and environmental benefits of having public transport extend beyond using the public system. These include fostering a sense of community; encouraging people to have a more active healthy lifestyle as they walk to/from station or bus stop; reducing injuries and fatalities caused by car accidents; allowing people to travel cheaper than owning and operating a car; and reduces pollution and road congestion – the more people who travel by train/buses the fewer cars on the road.

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