Upgrading sidewalks on the way to transit stations could make a difference in cities facing declining transit ridership.
This fall, Denver voters will consider a $937 million infrastructure bond that would include $30 million to improve sidewalks near light rail stations, bus stops, and bikeshare stations.
As TransitCenter's The Connection points out, the Sidewalks to Transit program won't produce nearly enough money to fix the problem—that would take more like $475 million, given that 37 percent of Denver sidewalks near transit are "either missing or too narrow to walk on comfortably."
But, combined with small quick fixes, it could be a good start to addressing a problem that The Connection says many cities don't pay enough mind: "Because most riders in high ridership systems walk to catch buses and trains, transit stops must be supported by well-designed streets and sidewalks ... Yet many cities in America have built streets without sidewalks, or allowed property owners to encroach on or neglect them."
Only two other cities—Nashville and Los Angeles—explicitly fund "walking to transit" programs, the blog notes.
FULL STORY: Denver's (Side)walks to Transit
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The Shifting Boomer Bulge: More Bad News for America’s Housing Crisis?
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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.
Tolling All Lanes
Bay Area transportation planners are studying a radical idea to reduce traffic congestion and fund driving alternatives: tolling all lanes on a freeway. Even more radical, the plan considers tolling parallel roads.
Federal SMART Grants Awarded for Transportation Safety, Equity Projects
The grant program focuses on the use of technology to improve safety, accessibility, and efficiency in transportation.
Fare Enforcement Upheld by Washington Supreme Court
But using armed police to enforce fare payment is less than ideal in the eyes of the top court in the state of Washington.
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