"Long live the captive audience!"
At least one person has missed a train after being forced to watch an advertisement before buying a ticket on the SEPTA transit system in Philadelphia.
Here to report that you now have to click through ADVERTISEMENTS before you can purchase SEPTA Key fare at least at the kiosk at Walnut-Locust. Yes, I missed my train. Yes, I’m mad.
— BSL stan account (@gumball_eyes) May 6, 2019
David Murrell that SEPTA "has started putting advertisements on fare kiosk displays, which you have no choice but to click through in order to purchase your ticket."
Murrell notes that the transit agency has a reason for resorting to such potentially "nefarious" means: it's up to its neck in risk, "on account of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, one of its biggest funders, being billions of dollars in debt."
As for the potentially nefariousness of the advertisement, there's the slow and frustrating user experience of the fare kiosk, which some users and even employees of the system admit are already slow. But there's also the ethical questions raised about forcing users of a public transit system to watch an advertisement to use the system.
The Link Between Public Transit and Justice
The chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association argues that a robust transit system is key to ensuring people on all sides of the justice system can access courts and resources.
SEPTA Budget Slashes Service by 45 Percent
The Philadelphia-area transit agency is legally tasked with maintaining a balanced budget. Officials hope the state will come to the rescue with additional funding.
SEPTA Awarded $153 Million to Stave Off Fare Hikes
Philadelphia’s struggling transit system will be able to delay a 30 percent fare raise, but the temporary fix won't do nearly enough to close its budget gap.
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