According to Davis (2006), “…locals pay a ‘congestion tax’ – ninety-three hours per commuter per year lost in traffic delays – that is the highest in the United States, and twice as high as it was in 1982” (p. 14). And yet, beyond congestion, there are several reasons why improvements in Los Angeles' public transportation system are necessary. 

Environmental Health:
Having a large amount of congestion can significantly impact the health of the residents of Los Angeles. Research conducted starting in the 1970s confirmed effects of exposure of humans to ozone and traffic related pollutants, but now long term health effects are becoming more apparent, especially among children. The Children’s Health Study (CHS) conducted a study in Southern California analyzing long term consequences of air pollution on children’s respiratory health. For the study, 6000 public school children from 12 communities were used. Results of the study revealed that air pollution leads to 10 percent slower lung function growth among children in communities with higher nitrogen dioxide levels, as well as other pollutants such as nitric acid vapor and particulate matter—traffic related pollutants. Children who moved away from polluted communities saw an improvement in lung function growth. Furthermore, it was found that children who play sports and or spend more time outside in communities with high ozone levels were more likely to develop asthma. This was not the case in communities with low ozone levels. Cutting emissions would reduce these health effects (Künzli, McConnell, Bates, Bastain, Hricko, Lurmann, Avol, Gilliland, & Peters, 2003). 

Another study of the Los Angeles region "found that the cancer risk along highway corridors with significant big truck traffic was 1,700 per million residents, the highest in the region, and much higher than the regional average of 1,200 to 1,400 per million residents” (Bullard, Johnson, & Torres, 2004, p. 167-168). If congestion is improved, the subsequent reduction in emissions will help to improve the overall health of the residents of Los Angeles. 

Social Justice:
Studies suggest that welfare participants face separation from jobs and employment because of a lack of access to reasonable commutes. One study that uses data on welfare participants and public transit in Los Angeles County found that “welfare participants’ access to employment varies dramatically depending on their residential location and commute mode” (Blumenberg & Ong, 2001). Welfare participants in neighborhoods with few available jobs depend on long and often unreliable commutes using available public transit, and have limited opportunities for employment in metropolitan areas.

Safety:
Waiting for the bus can often cause riders to feel unsafe. For instance, Lopez (1998) describes how “Aguirre and her son sometimes wait an hour for a bus after his nighttime karate class, and she fears for their lives on the mean streets.” While waiting for the bus, people are likely to get mugged. 

Increasing Population:
The Los Angeles Area is expected to expand by 6 million over the next 25 years (Purdum, 2000). As the population increases, it will be more necessary to have working alternatives in place, or else congestion issues will only worsen. 

Global Warming:
As prices rise, ridership decreases. This forces more people into cars, contributing to global warming. A national transportation surveys show that for each 10% increase in fares, ridership drops by 4%. (Natural Resources Defense Council, 2007, p. 51).

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