As cities streamline approval processes for bus-only lanes during the pandemic, transit experts hope the projects will lead to lasting change.
In a discussion hosted by TransitCenter on the efficacy of bus lanes installed during the COVID-19 pandemic, transportation professionals weighed in on the need for continued and improved bus service and the effects of the pandemic on transit systems across the country.
The pandemic only highlighted existing inequities in transit systems. While trains tend to serve white-collar workers who have largely shifted to working from home, buses remain a crucial lifeline for essential workers, many of whom are low-income and depend on buses to access jobs. During the pandemic, train ridership in Chicago dropped by 80%, while bus ridership stayed essentially the same.
To take advantage of lighter traffic and improve the efficiency of bus systems, some cities have fast-tracked bus lane projects this year, with Boston adding 14 miles of bus lanes in 2020. By reducing barriers to bus lane projects and implementing quick, temporary solutions, cities can improve traffic in the short term and gain support for making bus lanes permanent in the future as travel picks back up and users see the benefits of more efficient transit service.
FULL STORY: How have pandemic bus lanes worked out in Chicago, Boston, and SF?
20 Miles of Bus Lanes and Car-Free Busways Coming to New York City
While it falls short of a more ambitious proposal pitched by the MTA recently, a new plan to expand bus priority on the streets of New York City would mark a significant expansion of a trend that started on 14th Street in Manhattan.
Backtracking From Ambitious Bus Lane Promises in New York City
Back in June, the city of New York seemed poised for a major shift in transportation priority. In October, reality is setting in about how hard a sell the transformation will be.
Bus Priority Falling to Local Political Opposition in New York City
An ambitious program to add 20 miles of bus lanes and protected bus ways in the city of New York has been diminished by political opposition in parts of the city.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research