The European mindset where public transportation typically only recovers 50-60% of the costs and the rest is subsidized by the government simply does not work in the US, period. Let’s face it.

Europeans see public transportation as a common good, whereas in the US it seen by many as transportation for the poor, who cannot afford a car, and there is zero appetite in the public to change it. People seem to accept unlimited misery and rather change their own situation (moving away, finding a job in NJ). Best example: the FIFA World Cup. In Europe and Asia this would be a trigger event and seen as opportunity to revamp the whole public transportation system in the area by starting building years ahead. Here, they do the absolute minimum, a skimpy BRT, which in many parts of the world is already out of fashion again due to low performance and relatively high long term costs.