To shift the narrative so that many more people see transit as an essential service deserving of more funding
We must shift the narrative so that many more Americans see transit as an essential service deserving of more funding and priority than it currently receives. The prevailing narrative that car-centered lifestyles symbolize freedom and that transit is an unsafe, inferior product that wastes public funds has long impeded the work of advocates. We must sow a different narrative —leading with shared values—that highlights the flaws in our current transportation priorities, fostering a growing awareness of the need for improvement and galvanizing support for change.
In early 2026, TransitCenter conducted audience research to inform our narrative change efforts for public transit. Inspired by Liberation Ventures’ “belief arc” framework, we partnered with Voss Research and Strategy to field a national survey that yielded a belief arc of seven transit audience segments defined by shared attitudes and beliefs. The resulting report provides the transit movement with its first-ever map of our base and persuadable audiences. Research coming in summer 2026 will reveal the stories and frames needed to move these different audiences toward more active support for public transit.