Say what? Come on down to Chicago and stand outside Union Station during rush hour. Millions of people take public transportation every day here. I used to be one of them when I worked downtown. I'm afraid that this statement is simply untrue.
Sound Transit finished an elevated train to the airport from downtown Seattle last year. It seemed like a good way to spend a few billion dollars. Ridership thus far has mostly been dismal. The fares do not cover even a tiny percentage of the operating expenses. Even if it really catches on, there is no projected point in the future when fares will ever even cover the operating expenses let alone the capitol expenditures.
Check your U.S. map again. The eleven Western States are New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and California.
Illinois is a Midwestern State. I'm kind of stunned that I need to mention it.