Diesel
Multiple-Unit (DMU) train in a rural setting (Courtesy: Deutsche Bahn)
Ideas for Transit: Small Town/Rural
For most policymakers, the view is that small communities only need roads, and small town transit needs have been ignored ever since.
But rising gas prices are making the long daily commutes to regional job centers less affordable. Small towns are at risk of being cut off from cities and from each other.
Expanding intercity train and bus service with earlier departure times and faster trips is part of the solution. Encouraging vanpools is another part. Extending transit districts’ authority beyond county lines will also be necessary. Transit needs to be based around socioeconomic boundaries, not political ones.
