City Guide

9 U.S. Cities With the Best Public Transportation, Ranked

By Landing | Jul 8, 2024
Woman waiting for metro train in New York City, one of the best cities for public transportation.

For many Americans, owning a car means the freedom to hop in the driver’s seat and hit the open road. But traffic jams, endlessly circling the block for parking, and sky-high gas prices make the appeal of car ownership lose its shine. That’s probably why urbanites are swapping out their car keys for metro cards. 

In 2023, public transit ridership jumped to 7.1 billion total trips, a 16% bump from 2022. As city dwellers increasingly associate carless lifestyles with freedom, more efficient, eco-friendly transport alternatives are available to make city living more enjoyable. 

Although there’s a long road (or train track) ahead to improve public transit systems, here are nine trailblazing U.S. cities with the best public transportation. 

9 Best U.S. Cities for Public Transportation

According to Walk Score, these innovative cities offer the best public transport in the U.S. — so you’ll have fewer worries about parking and more time to enjoy everything your new home has to offer. And if you’re ready to book accommodations with Landing, check out the Walk Score on each listing’s page and learn exactly how accessible each property is.

1. Washington D.C., DC

Public Transit Score: 100

The nation’s capital’s monuments, gorgeous architecture, and wide-open green spaces are best viewed from the window seat of a bus or light rail. But that’s not the only reason why Washington, D.C. has the second-highest public transit ridership in the country. Cleanliness, convenience, and punctuality make this the best city for public transportation, especially in the downtown metro area. 

If you need to commute from out of town or enjoy a weekend getaway, you don’t need a car, either. Subways and long-distance rail lines run to New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia and as far south as Florida. 

2. New York City, NY

Public Transit Score: 100

There’s good reason New Yorkers opt to live without a car. And it’s not just to swap gas and car payments for subway fare to battle the Big Apple’s high cost of living

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) vast public transportation system includes the New York City Subway, New York City Bus, and Staten Island Railway, plus a ferry that services waterfront neighborhoods and several bike share programs. Whether you have an early morning meeting in the Financial District or want to be seen at a new nightclub in one of the city’s best neighborhoods, the 24/7 subway system and bus services let you travel New York safely at any hour.

New York City is also a huge Amtrak hub. From Manhattan’s Penn Station, you can connect to commuter rails in New Jersey, Long Island, and Connecticut and hop on regional rail lines to far-off destinations across the Northeast and all the way down the Eastern seaboard. 

3. San Francisco, CA

Public Transit Score: 77

San Francisco leads the way in public transportation systems in car-dependent California. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) runs an enormous fleet of commuting options, including light rail lines, streetcar trolleys, and emblematic cable cars. If you’re commuting into the city by the bay, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) brings commuters from the East Bay, the Peninsula, and San Jose, while the Caltrain rail system runs from San Francisco all the way to Gilroy. 

Within San Francisco, most neighborhoods are self-contained. Plenty of outdoor activities, restaurants, and daily necessities are reachable by foot. And despite the rolling terrain, many San Franciscans are dedicated bikers. The Bay Wheels bike-sharing system has a network of hybrid electric bikes to help you up and down the steepest hills. 

4. Boston, MA

Public Transit Score: 72

Bostonians take pride in living in the nation’s “Walking City.” With its small size and densely populated streets, it’s easy to get around on foot or by bike. But there’s also the extensive Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which includes commuter rails, subway lines, and ferries, to take you around Boston as well as surrounding cities like Cambridge and Brighton. 

5. Philadelphia, PA

Public Transit Score: 67

It’s not just brotherly love in Philadelphia. Philly residents love to commute on public transit. The city’s system, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), is the sixth-largest public transportation network in the country. A regional rail line and high-speed line serve Philadelphia and surrounding counties, as well as parts of Delaware and New Jersey. 

Once you’re in the city, two subway lines, streetcar trolleys, and buses get you around the city. One incredible feature is matching fares, which you can pay with your SEPTA card, credit, or debit. 

6. Chicago, IL

Public Transit Score: 65

Chicago is one of the largest cities in the country, with diverse urban neighborhoods and far-reaching urban sprawl. Luckily, a robust and reliable public metro system tops the list of reasons to move to Chicago. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) supports eight rail lines that meet at downtown’s Loop and the CTA Bus service, which reaches 35 suburbs along 127 routes. 

You might get the chills just thinking about waiting for the bus in Chicago’s sub-zero winter temperatures. Not to worry — the CTA Bus Tracker app lets you check on arrival times to calculate your departure perfectly. 

Chicago neighborhoods like Logan Square and Wicker Park will keep you entertained year-round. But, if you need a quick escape, there are direct rail services to O’Hare and Midway airport and long-distance bus and train services to large cities across the Midwest. 

7.  Seattle, WA

Public Transit Score: 60

Seattle is one of the best cities for outdoor enthusiasts, with easy access to green parks and incredible hiking trails. To improve ridership and keep the city emerald green, Seattle is currently undergoing the largest public transit expansion in the country. Over the next two decades, Seattlites will enjoy more than a dozen new light rail stations and better rapid transit connectivity across the city and the surrounding Puget Sound. 

That’s not to say Seattle’s mass transit system is in bad shape. The existing light rail system, bus lines, streetcar trolleys, and ferries (plus Amtrak trains to nearby cities and small planes to surrounding islands) get you everywhere on your Seattle bucket list. Likewise, the cyclist-friendly infrastructure and bike share system let you enjoy the fresh air and the emerald outdoors.  

8. Miami, FL

Public Transit Score: 57

Miami has a reputation for being car-centric, especially for glitzy residents who want to show off their luxury rides. But the city is making big investments to expand public transportation systems and improve ridership on existing mass transit. 

For now, if you want to get around efficiently without a car in Miami, the Metrorail and Metrobus system is heavily concentrated in downtown Miami and the surrounding waterfront neighborhoods. Likewise, the fare-free Metromover train loop gets commuters from downtown to nearby Brickwell. 

9. Pittsburgh, PA

Public Transit Score: 55

Similar to Miami, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a great reputation for public transportation. But in 2023, the city secured federal funding to boost ridership and improve and expand existing mass transit.

Currently, the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) provides bus services with more than 7,000 stops and a light rail and subway system called the “T.” Plus, a paratransit service called ADA provides door-to-door shared rides designed to help people with health conditions and impairments. 

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5 Cities With the Worst Public Transportation

Sidewalks that suddenly turn to roads with heavy traffic. Notoriously late buses. Urban sprawl only reachable by car. These are the cities where cars aren’t recommended — they’re necessary:

  1. Montgomery, AL (16)
  2. Oklahoma City, OK (17)
  3. Jacksonville, FL (21)
  4. Fort Worth, TX (22)
  5. Nashville, TN (22)

Explore These Cities With Landing

If you’re ready to ditch your four wheels for commuter rails, Landing has fully furnished apartments in cities investing in eco-friendly futures. Whether you want an apartment close to subway stations and bus stops or a neighborhood you never need to leave, Landing has your new, car-free lifestyle covered.

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