Amid a nationwide bus driver shortage, transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area haven’t been able to fill vacant positions fast enough.
San Francisco Bay Area transit operators are grappling with a shortage of bus drivers, leading agencies such as SamTrans to cancel hundreds of trips in recent months and even shut down a route, writes Nico Savidge.
"The problem isn’t limited to public transit either — Bay Area school districts have similarly struggled to find drivers amid a tight labor market, high cost of living and competition with charter companies and tech-industry shuttles," reports Savidge.
SamTrans is stepping up recruiting and training efforts in order to fill positions as drivers retire. AC Transit is partnering with local organizations to find new drivers. In the Santa Clara Valley, VTA is using its mentoring program and working with its drivers’ union to help with recruiting.
"[John Courtney of Amalgamated Transit Union local 265 in San Jose] said he would 'certainly' support a measure like the one San Francisco voters just approved taxing ride-hailing companies to fund better public transportation and hire new drivers," adds Savidge.
FULL STORY: Canceled trips and stranded riders as Bay Area grapples with bus driver shortage
APTA Requests CDL Testing Change to Address Bus Operator Shortage
Eighty-four percent of U.S. transit agencies surveyed said CDL complexity was a hiring obstacle, with the “under-the-hood” requirement being the most challenging.
S.F. Bay Area Fare Integration Study Voted Down
Transit officials pass on a proposal to take a closer look at the possibility of an integrated fare system that would simplify transit travel in the Bay Area.
Why Are Transit Agencies So Understaffed?
More than nine in 10 U.S. transit agencies face operator shortages. A new report sheds light on the reasons why they’re having such a hard time attracting new hires.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service