A pair of articles in the Times-Picayune, along with a new study from advocacy group Ride New Orleans, finds the transit system in New Orleans doing less with more.
"Despite fewer routes and fewer vehicles since Hurricane Katrina struck nine years ago, public transit in New Orleans costs comparatively more than several similarly-sized cities, according to a new study that analyzed federal data of transit systems nationwide," reports Richard Rainey in one of the two articles he wrote for the Times Picayune.
Moreover, while New Orleans has restored 86 percent of its pre-Katrina population, only 36 percent of its bus and street car services have been restored.
"The private company running the Regional Transit Authority spent $168 for every hour each bus and streetcar ran in 2012, according to the study by advocacy group Ride New Orleans. Among eight cities of similar size examined in the study, Minneapolis had the next highest cost at $140 an hour, and the lowest was Little Rock at $74."
The report comes as Veolia Transportation Services, the private contractor managing the Regional Transit Authority, is considering a strategy that would include a fare increase to help fund a $5 million service expansion—and close the gap on a $10 million budget shortfall.
FULL STORY: Costs are high, fares low for New Orleans public transit, report says
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.