The city is doubling down on its efforts to boost bus ridership as part of its climate action plan.

Tucson, Arizona is offering free bus rides for at least another year as part of the city’s effort to expand public transit ridership, according to a piece in Yale Climate Connections. The city began offering free transit during the Covid-19 pandemic and has repeatedly renewed the program.
But fare cost isn’t the only challenge to boosting ridership, Fátima Luna, Tucson’s Chief Resilience Officer, acknowledges. A lack of shade at nearly half of the city’s bus stops is another factor that prevents people from safely and comfortably riding buses. “So as part of a pilot project, the city will install shade structures and plant trees and other vegetation at a handful of stops. They’ll measure how these changes affect temperature — and plan to implement the most effective strategies more widely.”
Last year, Tucson began implementing a climate action plan to address extreme heat and provide cooling centers and other mitigation measures.
FULL STORY: Tucson, Arizona, bets on buses

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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