So I am going to give everyone a guide on how public transit gets built in America using the example of the 2 systems undergoing the largest expansions currently, Seattle, and LA.
How to build a Metro System in the US
- Organize transit advocacy groups (your city is probably currently here)
- Elect pro transit leaders to a city council
- Make transit an issue by talking to people about it, speaking at local government hearings and in general showing how it is neede
- Get the city government to begin a study on the Environmental impact of a metro system
- During the study make your voice heard by planners
- Have the City council vote to hold a transit levy ballot measure
- Vote in favour of the ballot measure
- Stay informed on the transit project to insure it stays as what was promised to voters
- Wait for construction to finish
- Ride the new metro system
The ballot measure is the most important part of any transit plan because if that fails the system won't have funding and therefore won't get built. If it fails you need to continue to fight for a new ballot measure with an updated plan that deals with the issues of the original to makes sure you get transit eventually.
Also seriously, if you want the metro system, and it gets built, ride it when it is convenient, if ridership is low then it is unlikely to get any expansions
