Transit
The Lesser Evil
Due to the collapse of local tax revenues caused by the national economic downturn, many transit systems may face shortages of money over the next year or two. Assuming this is the case, transit providers will have to either raise fares or reduce services by eliminating bus routes or otherwise reducing transit service. It seems to me that raising fares is generally the lesser evil, both from the standpoint of an individual rider and from the standpoint of the transit agency itself.
Transit Ridership is Still High
Despite falling gas prices, transit ridership is still up. The amount of Vehicle Miles Traveled is also down for the 11th month in a row.
Thanksgiving
Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I would ask myself: what I am thankful for that is related to urbanism?
Despite Lower Gas Prices, Americans Driving Less
According to the Federal Highway Administration, the number of miles driven in the U.S. declined by 4.4% since last year.
GM Killed Mass Transit: Now it Must Help Repair it
Now that General Motors is facing financial ruin and seeking a federal bailout, Harvey Wasserman argues that before it receives any help, GM must redress its participation in the conspiracy to destroy America's mass transit system.
Ottawa Kills Millions in Road Project for Mass Transit
The new master plan for Ottawa calls for a radical rethink of priorities, postponing at least $84 million in road building to focus on creating a 'compact, transit city'.
Fun with transportation statistics
A few days ago, I was looking at a regional planning document and saw something startling: an assertion that transit ridership in my region has been going down. Since transit ridership has been going up nationwide, I smelled a rat. After digging around through a big pile of statistics, I realized that there are so many different ways of measuring transit ridership that one can easily prove either that ridership is going up or that ridership is going down. Some possible measurements include:
McCain Votes Against Transit
John McCain was one of two dozen senators to vote last week against a bill that included $1.5 billion to fund D.C. transit.
Half-a-Penny for Your Transit?
After being signed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a half-cent sales tax increase will appear on the November ballot in Los Angeles County, where it would create a fund for public transit projects.
Can New York's Transit System Stave Off Financial Disaster?
The first public hearing on how to shore up the MTA's finances was held on Monday. Congestion pricing was widely mentioned as part of the solution, but more will be necessary to maintain and expand the nation's largest transit system.
Chicago Region Loses Billions Each Year Thanks to Traffic Congestion
A new report from the Metropolitan Planning Council pegs the annual cost of congestion to the Chicago region at $7.3 billion.
One way to protect bus riders
As gas prices keep rising, the public demand for buses and trains keeps growing. Yet in some cities, government is actually cutting back transit service, because rising gas prices make transit vehicles more expensive to operate.(1) But as a matter of substantive policy, service reductions are not only less desirable than service increases, but also less desirable than fare increases. As a bus rider, I’d rather pay $1.50 and know that my service is safe from fiscal crises than pay $1 and worry that my service might be reduced or canceled next month. Moreover, if fairness means spreading pain equally throughout the population, it is fairer to have everyone pay a little more than to have some neighborhoods be left without service.
Clinton Backs Transit Bill
Streetsblog reports that Hillary Clinton has followed the lead of Congress and introduced a version of their recent transit bill.
Seattle's Transit Authority Announces $17.9 Billion Plan
Sound Transit is putting a major bus and rail plan on the November ballot. The Seattle Times has the details of where the money will go.
Transit Authorities Say Too Little, Too Late
The provincial government of Montréal challenged transit authorities to increase capacity in time for school. One authority says,'It's been 10 years we've been telling them to put new money into buses and métros...what can they do in two months?'
Friday Funny: Twins Take Transit, Mess With People's Heads
Pranksters load up the New York subway with identical twins, surprising riders.
America's Most Fuel-Efficient Neighborhoods
Forbes works with the Center for Neighborhood Technology to find the best neighborhoods to get around affordably.
Employers Going Beyond Requirements for Commute Alternatives
Employers in the Seattle area are outpacing City Hall in providing incentives to employees not to drive to work in single occupancy cars. A state law even requires companies with 100 or more commuters to provide alternative commuting plans.
The Bronx Debuts BRT
Wired rides the Bronx's new Bus Rapid Transit, and determines that "rapid" is in the eye of the beholder.
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
