Care to ride a bus shaped like a fish? Sample a new sofa on a rapid-transit train? See locally produced artworks? MARTA's marketing consultant says you might. But the system's riders just want on-time arrivals.
"Leather couches in a furniture-store sponsored train car. Free rides on MLK Jr. Day â€" 'Free at last,' get it? Bicycle carts delivering 'traffic jam' and toast to drivers stuck in gridlock, courtesy of MARTA. Pictures of reindeer plastered on trains during the Christmas season. These strange but true ideas are straight from the mind of Atlanta pitchman extraordinaire Joey Reiman and his team at BrightHouse."
"MARTA hired Reiman's company to help the transit system overhaul its public image. BrightHouse's report, issued last week, challenges MARTA's leaders to totally rethink what they do."
"It's not clear how many ideas will ever get off the drawing board. Even those deemed feasible could prove expensive to introduce, a problem for a transit system that slashed bus and rail service in recent years to balance its budget."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution also weighs in on the issue with an editorial.
FULL STORY: If MARTA looked like this, would you ride it?
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.
New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.
Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service