Agencies can use data resources to improve their decision-making and provide more responsive service.
With transit ridership "still down about 54 percent from where it was at this time in 2019," transit agencies are turning to data and technology to explore ways to change their operations and better serve riders, writes Skip Descant.
"New Jersey Transit is partnering with the movement technology firm Replica to fold a number of data resources into planning and decision-making at the agency. The Replica data reflects localized economic activity, ridership changes on any given route, and a look at the overall mobility in an area showing not only the mode of travel, but also the purpose of the trip." Elsewhere, "the Utah Transit Authority in Salt Lake City is joining forces with community partners to offer on-demand rides for late-night workers," and "[t]he San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has installed temporary transit lanes on key routes 'to speed up service so that transit riders do not bear the cost of traffic congestion.'"
"In order to be resilient, transit has shown a need to think and act fast. Which is where data, and its analysis, can help," Steven Turell, chief of staff for Replica, told Government Technology. Using data, "you can actually start to optimize much more quickly for the outcomes that you want in the city."
FULL STORY: Data, Analysis Are Essential to Planning the Future of Transit
Post-Pandemic Transit Likely To Remain Less Commuter-Focused
While the future of transit ridership depends on a range of still-uncertain factors, the commuter-centric patterns that characterized pre-COVID transit service are probably a thing of the past.
Lessons for Transit Ridership From Past Pandemics
While COVID-19 is a unique moment in American history, experiences from past pandemics shed light on how the pandemic might shape public transit ridership.
How to Attract Post-Pandemic Transit Riders
After seeing dramatic cuts in service and ridership during the pandemic, transit agencies have a small window of opportunity to gain and retain regular passengers.
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.
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.
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