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
LA Begins Adding New Bus Shelters
The program, years in the works, pledges to add 3,000 new bus shelters and 450 shade structures to protect riders from extreme heat and weather.
Gas Too Expensive? Cincinnati Metro Has You Covered With Free Rides
Cincinnati residents and visitors will have access to free transit for a week as the agency aims to boost ridership.
Philadelphia Could Lose Free Transit Program
The city’s upcoming budget doesn’t include the Zero Fare program, which offers free SEPTA fare to more than 24,000 residents.
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.
North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
Houston Mayor Promises Dedicated Austin Street Bike Lane After Public Backlash
Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.
How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.
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