A proposed pilot program would text six new types of transit ridership incentives in the city of Austin.
Katie Pyzyk reports on an ongoing effort in Austin, Texas to develop new forms of incentives for transit riders in the hopes of attracting more riders to the Capital Metro system.
"The pilot comes at the request of the city council, which in December passed a resolution declaring the city had to find creative ways to increase transit ridership to combat increases in traffic congestion and the cost of car ownership," according to Pyzyk.
The Austin Transportation Department (ATD) worked together with Capital Metro, and the city's Innovation and Equity offices to generate a list of 15 proposed incentives programs, recently narrowing the list down to six proposals in a report published in June [pdf].
The proposals, called "recommended strategy options" in the report, are listed as follows:
- Transit Passes for Registered Movability Members and Focused Marketing Program
- Expand Movability to Create Sub- Transportation Management Associations (TMAs)
- Transit Use Rewards Program
- Personalized “Nudge” Pilot
- Gamification and Frequent Rider Program
- Unbundle Citywide Parking
"The city council is expected to identify the final strategy and include it in the FY 2020 budget in September," according to Pyzyk.
Some evidence of innovation successfully yielding new transit ridership emerged in Austin earlier this month, when Capital Metro released data showing increased ridership following a system redesign launched in June 2018.
Read the full story: Austin, TX considers transit incentives to reduce congestion
Bus System Redesign Boosts Ridership in Austin
Over a year after Capital Metro in Austin overhauled its bus system design, the system is bucking national trends and achieving growth in its ridership numbers.
Transit Rides Now Free for Kids in Austin
Capital Metro is growing a new generation of public transit riders.
Austin's Capital Metro Makes Like Uber and Lets Users Hail Their Ride
Public transit is evolving to keep up with the conveniences offered by transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. The question is whether it will work for the long haul.
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.
Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand
For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.
NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop
New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.
Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan
The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.
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.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
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