The city of Alexandria, Virginia is asking the public to weigh in on a fundamental question of bus transit planning: ridership or coverage?

The city of Alexandria, Virginia is undertaking a Transit Vision planning process to lay the groundwork for the next ten to 20 years of bus service in the city. The city runs its won DASH bus service, but the WMATA’s Metrobus also operates in the city. Connections to the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), Metrorail, and external bus operators like the Fairfax Connector and Arlington Transit (ART) will also figure into the bus service equation in the city.
Greg Otten reports a few weeks after the city released a Transit Vision Concepts Report [pdf] on the findings of a community engagement process that included an online survey and several public meetings. The public input process is designed to determine "which of two scenarios the City and DASH should pursue: increased frequency of bus service trading off coverage, or, increased coverage of the city with less frequent bus service. The plan assumes a 20% increase in bus service."
The results [pdf] of the initial public input process showed "that a majority of Alexandria bus riders want fast and frequent bus service," according to Otten. A new survey is drilling down deeper into public preferences between two scenarios, referred to by planners as "Ridership" or "Coverage." Otten explains:
“Ridership” means increased and more frequent bus service in dense areas at the expense of fewer parts of the city being served by buses. The assumption is that more people will ride because there is faster and more frequent service in dense areas. “Coverage” means increased service in some areas at the expense of frequency. More of the city will be served, and thus more people potentially able to ride.
After gathering input on these two concepts, planners will proceed with a design for a new bus network in the city.
FULL STORY: Alexandria is updating its bus network, and riders want faster and more frequent service

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie