A Shot in the Arm for Transit Written by David Peter Alan, Contributing Editor How can we improve public health, a transit provider’s reputation, and the prospect that riders will remain loyal and return when the pandemic is over? First, let’s take a look at where we are. Because of the COVID-19 virus, transit has gotten a bad reputation lately. There have also been numerous service cuts around the nation, and it appears that even more-severe cuts could be coming. It is happening on Amtrak, too. As if it were not bad enough that shutdowns have caused ridership and revenue to plummet, many in the general public believe that riding transit is risky. While many studies dispute that claim—including an American Public Transportation Association-commissioned study by Sam Schwartz as well as others from Europe and Asia—transit generally (and Amtrak, too), could use a shot in the arm—literally.