New research outlines how to make public transportation a better option for suburban commuters.
Two tweaks can make transit more competitive in suburban areas, according to new research: park-and-ride lots and dedicated highway lanes.
For Streetsblog USA, Angie Schmitt reports on a study from the University of Minnesota's Accessibility Lab that measured access to jobs by car versus by public transit in the Twin Cities. It found that relatively small additions to the system—park-and-ride and dedicated lanes—could substantially improve transit's performance.
Park-and-ride lots improved residents' access to transit threefold, according to the study, while dedicated lanes lead to speedier commutes. "The combination of those elements increases the relative number of jobs available within an hour trip by transit about 19 percent compared to driving," Schmitt reports.
Three highways in the Twin Cities currently utilize dedicated lanes during rush hour, Schmitt reports. Implementing dedicated lanes across the region could "increase the number of jobs available to the average suburban resident who lives within a half-mile of a Park-and-Ride station by 13 percent."
FULL STORY: How to Make Transit More Competitive in the Suburbs
Florida Law Could Eliminate Dedicated Bus Lanes
A new law calls for a minimum ridership of 6,000 passengers in the first year for new bus rapid transit lines. To date, no bus lines in the Tampa Bay region come close.
Chicago Transit Recovery Trails Behind Other Major US Cities
Sluggish ridership rates and staffing shortages are dampening recovery. Looming budget gaps could make things even worse.
Portland ‘BRT Light’ Line Shows Promise
Despite not having fully dedicated bus lanes, Portland’s new ‘light’ bus rapid transit line is significantly reducing travel times.
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