Learn about efforts from across the country to expand access to public lands via public transit.
Outdoor destinations, including beaches, parks, natural areas, and trails, have become very popular during the pandemic. For those with cars, getting to these places is usually not too difficult. However, for those without a vehicle, it is challenging to get anywhere outside the urban core of most cities. In this article, Gregory Scruggs writes about how King County (WA) and a number of cities and organizations are working to expand public transit service to parks and trailheads so that more people can access and enjoy the great outdoors. (To better understand how the pandemic has impacted outdoor recreation, read this article and the report it references.)
Specifically, the article features King County's Trailhead Direct which is a pilot project co-led by King County Metro and King County Parks. This project seeks to ease vehicle congestion, reduce safety hazards, and expand access to hiking destinations along I-90. For the 2021 season, Trailhead Direct is offering service to Mt Si and Issaquah on weekends and holidays from June 5th, 2021 to September 26th, 2021.
To learn more about this model transit to trails system and other efforts nationwide, please read the source article.
FULL STORY: The Cities Trailblazing Transit Service into the Wilderness
A Shuttle Ride to the Trailhead
A pilot program by King County Metro and the King County Parks Department in the state of Washington found success in 2017, and is spending the beginning of 2018 looking at options to expand.
Pedestrian Deaths Spike in King County Cities
Eight cities in Washington’s King County saw sharp increases in traffic fatalities, signaling a need for more robust road safety and traffic calming policies.
King County Water Treatment Station Set to Open
The facility is part of a plan to protect the Duwamish River from polluted runoff from overflowing sewer pipes.
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