UTA's Bus Rapid Transit Line is yet to be completed but, by removing fares, the service has quintupled its ridership.
Provo made its bus free, and now ridership is way up. The Utah Transit Authority has not yet completed its bus stops, but "a fivefold increase occurred in the first month of its new Utah Valley Express (UVX), a bus rapid transit route in Provo and Orem — which, for now, is free for everyone and offers service every six minutes at peak times (and every 10 minutes at off-peak times)," Lee Davidson reports.
When the bus rapid transit line was initially proposed it was not without controversy. Some sued to try and stop the line from being built complaining that it would harm the flow of traffic. "The route has yet to use priority control at traffic signals to speed it along," Davidson reports, but so far, its impact on traffic seems to be putting more people on the bus.
FULL STORY: UTA finds a way to fill buses — offer free fare and frequent service
'Free Fare February' a Huge Boost for Ridership in Utah
Early returns from Utah Transit Authority's fare-free transit experiment.
Provo Bus Will Be Free for Three Years
A federal grant meant to reduce congestion will make bus travel from Provo to Orem free until 2021.
Provo-Orem Bus Rapid Transit Project Wins Court Battle
A district judge has thrown out a lawsuit challenging local authority to approve an under-construction bus rapid transit project in Utah.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association