That's a feature, not a bug. Public transport is viewed as a jobs program in the US.

Buy America Act makes buses roughly three times more expensive, and then they use decades-old technology due to a lack of competition.

The MTA in NYC has two-person subway crews, which is almost unprecedented in this day and age. BART could be driverless if unions wouldn't revolt.

There's an irony that American unions are strong enough to prevent automatization, but weak enough to fear it (unlike say Denmark or France).