The failure of suburb-to-suburb bus service run by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) offers lessons in regional transit planning.
"The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is eliminating [pdf] three suburb-to-suburb express bus routes around Baltimore due to low ridership," reports Drew Ackermann. "The routes were introduced in 2016 to give people commuting to suburban job centers a transit option that avoided downtown congestion."
Ackerman performs a post-mortem, of sorts, on the idea of suburb-to-suburb bus service in the Baltimore region, identifying challenges in balancing ridership and coverage as the main culprits for the demise of the routes.
FULL STORY: Baltimore’s suburb-to-suburb express buses aren’t attracting many riders. Why not?
Central Maryland Regional Transit Plan: First Regional Transit Plan for Baltimore Since 2002
Transit planners in the Baltimore area are working on plans for a more reliable, useful regional transit system.
Maryland to Restart Planning for East-West Transit Line Through Baltimore
A plan for the Red Line, an east-west light rail line notoriously canceled by former-Governor Larry Hogan in 2015, is back on the table in Baltimore.
Resilience Planning for Suburban Growth
Whether or not the suburban shift accelerated by the pandemic continues, policymakers can implement climate resilience strategies and guide sustainable growth in both cities and exurbs.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)