VOA慢速英语2014 美国公共交通使用量创60年新高

 

AS IT IS 2014-08-25 Use of Mass Transit¹ Is Highest in Nearly 60 Years 美国公共交通使用量创60年新高

A record number of Americans are moving into cities. When they move into urban areas, they drive less. New York City is one of the top cities for new people and for users of mass transit.

There are about 3.4 billion rides on New York City subways and buses every year. That is about one-third of all mass transit trips in the United States.

New York’s mass transit system operates 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week. The public transport system costs $1.5 billion a year to maintain. It is one of the world’s oldest mass transit systems. The city’s first subway line opened in 1904.   

Use of public transportation is the highest it has been in almost 60 years in almost every American city. Researchers say Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation in 2012. 

Gene² Russianoff is a spokesman for the Straphangers Campaign. The group supports people who take public transportation. He says younger Americans are causing the rise in mass transit use. 

“Millenials -- those people born around the turn of the past century --are much less car-oriented. They are urban. They like not owning cars, they like less responsibility and there are a lot of them.”

Many people, not just millenials, believe public transit is less costly³ than car use and is good for the environment. Richard Rudolph is the chairman of the Rail Users Network.

“Of course, when we talk about insurance rates going up, the price of automobiles⁴ going up, then people are finally waking up and realizing: wait a minute, here’s this huge asset that's been underutilized. Why not take advantage of this particular opportunity? It certainly makes more sense to get people out of automobiles into subways and into commuter⁵ and passenger railroads.”

New York City is planning several major expansions of its public transportation system. One project is a new $4.7 billion subway line. The first part of the project is set to be completed in 2016.

People who work in New York’s financial area will soon be using a new subway center. Almost all of New York City’s subways meet in the lower part of Manhattan. The new center will give riders an easier way to travel to the neighboring state of New Jersey⁶.  

The most costly planned project is a $7 billion tunnel connection from Long Island into Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal.

Andrew Albert is a member of the board of the Metropolitan⁷ Transit Authority. He says there are many other reasons for the increase in the use of mass transit.

“The system has gotten a lot more dependable. We have new cars.  We have countdown clocks to tell you when the next train is coming.  We have expanded facilities in places.”

1 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

2 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

3 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

4 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

6 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

7 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。