While Europe and Asia often receive accolades for their public transportation, several cities in the United States are emerging as strong contenders, offering user-friendly, affordable, and safe train and bus networks. The increasing popularity of public transit in the US is evident in the latest data from the American Public Transportation Association, which reported a 16 percent rise in ridership between 2022 and 2023, reaching a total of 7.1 billion trips in 2023.
To identify the cities leading the way in public transportation, Walk Score, a Redfin subsidiary specializing in walkability and transit accessibility ratings, conducted an analysis of 130 US cities with populations exceeding 200,000. Their comprehensive ranking system, out of 100 points, assesses the efficiency of a city’s public transportation by considering factors such as route frequency, stop proximity, and transit modes, with train systems weighted more heavily than bus networks. Although the data originates from 2021, the insights remain a relevant reflection of the current state of public transportation in the US.
New York City claimed the top position in Walk Score’s transit ranking, boasting an impressive score of 88.8 out of 100. The city’s extensive New York Subway system is not only accessible with 472 stations but also remains relatively affordable for riders at $2.90 per ride for most users. Complementing the subway are 238 bus routes, alongside two major commuter rail networks: the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Railroad, further enhancing the city’s public transit infrastructure.
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reports that the New York City subway averaged over 3.6 million weekday riders in 2023, with the bus system serving over one million users daily. Gothamist further highlighted the subway’s continued growth in 2024, noting that it has already surpassed 4 million daily riders on 38 separate days this year, demonstrating the system’s vital role in city life.
San Francisco secured the second spot in the rankings, but with a transit score of 77.1, it trails New York City by a significant 11.5 points. Renowned for its iconic cable cars, San Francisco’s public transportation network also includes a robust system of buses and trains operated by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni).
Notably, San Francisco and Seattle (ranked 9th) are the only West Coast cities featured in the top ten. East Coast cities dominate the list, including Boston, Jersey City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Newark, New Jersey. Chicago stands out as the sole Midwest city among the top performers.
Here is the complete list of the top 10 Cities In The Us With The Best Public Transportation according to Walk Score:
- New York (Transit Score: 88.6)
- San Francisco (Transit Score: 77.1)
- Boston (Transit Score: 72.4)
- Jersey City, New Jersey (Transit Score: 70.5)
- Washington, D.C. (Transit Score: 68.7)
- Philadelphia (Transit Score: 67)
- Newark, New Jersey (tie) (Transit Score: 65)
- Chicago (tie) (Transit Score: 65)
- Seattle (Transit Score: 59.6)
- Arlington, Virginia (Transit Score: 58.6)
