Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Around the Block

The Top 10 Regions Where Jobs Are Within Reach for Transit Riders

A map of transit accessibility for jobs in Austin, via University of Minnesota

How easy is it to access jobs via transit? The answer says a lot about economic fairness in your region, and whether employment opportunities are fully available to people who can't afford the expense of owning, maintaining, and fueling a car.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been working on measuring transit access to jobs as part of their broader "Access Across America" project, and they just came out with new rankings for 49 of the nation's biggest metro regions.

Using detailed data on population, employment, and transit schedules, the rankings weigh how many jobs residents can typically access via bus or train in a given amount of time. The more jobs are within reach of more people in less time, the better a region's rank will be.

Among the metro areas that provide the best job access by transit, there aren't too many surprises.

Best job accessibility by transit (metro area)

    1. New York
    2. San Francisco
    3. Chicago
    4. Washington D.C.
    5. Los Angeles
    6. Boston
    7. Philadelphia
    8. Seattle
    9. San Jose
    10. Denver

The top 10 list is unchanged from the previous year, notes UMN in a press release. But there were some shifts. "In all, 36 of the 49 largest metros showed increases in job accessibility by transit."

The list below shows the regions where transit access to jobs improved the most between 2015 and 2016. Only one of these cities -- Seattle -- has made notable changes in transit service, so the improvements are probably related to changes in the location of jobs or housing that made existing transit service a better fit for more commutes. It's an important reminder that making transit service useful depends to a large extent on land use decisions.

Biggest improvement in accessibility

    1. Cincinnati (+ 11.23%)
    2. Charlotte (+ 11.02%)
    3. Orlando (+ 10.83%)
    4. Seattle (+ 10.80%)
    5. Providence (+ 10.65%)
    6. Phoenix (+ 7.51%)
    7. Riverside (+ 6.59%)
    8. Milwaukee (+ 6.53%)
    9. Hartford (+ 6.44%)
    10. New Orleans (+ 6.18%)

Check out the full report for detailed data about how your region performs.

More recommended today: Observational Epidemiology critiques media coverage of Elon Musk's Hyperloop. And Seattle Met explains a proposal moving forward in Seattle for "sweeping" upzoning that would address the city's housing shortage.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Are We All Living in a ‘Carspiracy’?

How does "car-brain" shape the way we think about the world — even in relatively bike-friendly countries like the U.K.?

July 26, 2024

Friday’s Headlines Share and Share Alike

Bikeshares, and e-bikes and scooters generally, are becoming more popular. That's led to more injuries, highlighting the need for better infrastructure.

July 26, 2024

What the Heck is Going on With the California E-Bike Incentive Program?

The program's launch has been delayed for two years, and currently "there is no specific timeline" for it. Plus the administrator, Pedal Ahead, is getting dragged, but details are vague.

July 26, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Have Cities Run Out of Land?

Chris Redfearn of USC and Anthony Orlando of Cal Poly Pomona on why "pro-business" Texas housing markets are catching up to "pro-regulation" California and what it might mean for future city growth.

July 25, 2024

The Paris Plan for Olympic Traffic? Build More Bike Lanes

A push to make Paris fully bikable for the Olympics is already paying dividends long before the opening ceremonies.

July 25, 2024
See all posts