Transit malls and voter support have buoyed a system that continues to attract commuters and other riders.
Seattle's buses are gaining riders. This is remarkable, in part, because the rest of the country is generally losing public transit riders and bus riders in particular. This matters for reasons of environmentalism and equality. "Bus service is crucial to reducing emissions in the Seattle region. According to King County Metro, which serves the region. Nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State come from transportation," Andrew Small reports for CityLab. In terms of equity, the larger the population that rides the bus, the more likely the buses are to gain support, so that it's not just those who can't afford to drive or are physically unable to do so, who fight for these resources.
Small doesn't point to any one silver bullet to account for Seattle's growth in transit riders but, rather, three categories of fixes: the existence of transit malls, a handful of small fixes (like bus-only turn lanes in particular stretches), and the support of Seattle voters.
FULL STORY: How Seattle Bucked a National Trend and Got More People to Ride the Bus
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Cincinnati residents and visitors will have access to free transit for a week as the agency aims to boost ridership.
Houston Transit Barely Beats Out Dallas for Ridership
Out of the top five U.S. metro areas, Houston's transit ridership is second-lowest only to Dallas.
New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.
A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.
Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.
Mapping Sidewalks for Improved Connectivity
A new tool uses aerial image recognition to map a city’s sidewalks and crosswalks. Its developers hope it will aid in creating a more comprehensive understanding of pedestrian networks and where improvements are needed.
Long Beach Residents Oppose Proposed Homeless Services Hub Near Rail Terminus
L.A. Metro’s “end-of-the-line” policy forces people experiencing homeless off transit every night at the same time and location. A proposed hub would provide services a few stops before the end of the line in Long Beach.
The Nation's Most Advanced Secessionist Movement
Legislation supporting the Greater Idaho Movement, which would annex over half of neighboring Oregon, has advanced in the Idaho legislature.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.
