Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Around the Block

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

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 David Levinson, a civil engineering professor David Levinson who helped devise the rankings. But there were some shifts. "In all, 36 of the 49 largest metros showed increases in job accessibility by transit," Levinson writes.

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 New York City

Cyclist: Cop Pulled a Taser During Summons Chase

In a dramatic escalation of the NYPD's criminal crackdown on bike riders, a police officer pulled a stun gun while chasing a cyclist for allegedly running a red light on a regular bike.

May 30, 2025

Albany Pols Seize the Helm(et)

Helmet laws remain controversial — they're the "common-sense" approach pushed by lawmakers who ignore that studies show they don't improve safety.

May 30, 2025

Tisch Reveals Real Reason for Her E-Bike Crackdown: E-Bike Licensing

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch doubles down on her cycling criminalization campaign, saying e-bike licensing is the only other option.

May 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: A ‘Critical’ Moment Edition

Cyclists will protest against the NYPD's bike crackdown with a Critical Mass ride to City Hall on Friday. Plus more news.

May 30, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Astoria’s Big Beautiful 31st Avenue Bike Boulevard

Streetsblog paid a visit to New York City's widest on-street protected bike lane ever, which is up and running in Astoria.

May 30, 2025
See all posts