In the continuing debate over congestion pricing in New York, Adele Peters asks if transit advocates are stopping short of what they should be asking for: free transit for all of New York.

It's been a rough year for the MTA. Between service failures and falling ridership, many are looking for a way to buoy public transit in New York. Some transit proponents have argued for congestion pricing, but Mayor Bill de Blasio continues to oppose the idea.
"But a report at the time, commissioned by mass transit advocate Theodore Kheel, suggested that a fee on drivers would not only reduce traffic and save the city billions by regaining the productivity of people previously stuck in gridlock, but would be able to pay for free public transportation for everyone else," Adele Peters writes for Fast Company. This is beyond what some have asked for. "The fees could help repair and upgrade the city’s struggling subway system. The idea of free public transit is less likely to ever happen," Peters writes. But that is what Mayor Bloomberg described wanting when he discussed the idea during his term.
For his part, de Blasio suggests funds for the MTA could come from a "millionaire's tax" that would subsidize transit passes for those who can’t afford tickets, Peters reports. But this system would do nothing to curb traffic or creates incentives for transit before the improvements can be made. Peters argues that transit's role will be just as important in the future: "Even if cars are shared, electric, and self-driving, subways and buses still have advantages, including keeping roads less congested. Cities will need to find ways to make those traditional services competitive, and that might eventually mean lower–or even free–fares."
FULL STORY: Should Public Transit Be Free?

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
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