A group of 12 leading transit experts debriefed on the consequences of the pandemic for public transit, and proposed a future that centers public transit as a tool for economic recovery and righting the past wrongs of the planning profession.
"Covid-19 wreaked havoc with America’s public transportation networks," writes Tanya Snyder to introduce the proceedings of a recent panel discussion between 12 leading transit experts on the future of public transit in the post-pandemic world.
"Empty buses and train cars were a good sign, at first, that people were heeding calls for social distancing," continues Snyder. "Within weeks, we realized that grocery employees and hospital workers, renamed “essential workers” and lauded as heroes, were struggling to get to work as the transit systems they relied on cut schedules. People found it hard to make essential trips and access medical care. It turned out that even during a lockdown, public transportation is the artery through which the lifeblood of cities flows."
The cultural and economic position of public transit evolved constantly during the pandemic, and the likelihood that the future of public transit is likely to be a source of political consternation and technological innovation inspired Politico to gather a panel of 12 leading transit advocates, planners, system designers, and government officials from around the world for a two-hour zoom discussion about the future of transit.
The discussion started with a recap of the major events and themes of transit during the pandemic (e.g., "widespread service cuts," disparate impacts, migration, disappearing rush hour, and "hub-and-spoke systems became obsolete"). The second part of the discussion focused on how to "future-proof" public transit for life after COVID. The subheadings of the part of the discussion are listed below, with more details provided in the source article:
- It's time to end transit red-lining
- Refocus on bus service
- Detangle jurisdictions
- Make driving worse
- Revamp data systems
FULL STORY: Policy Hackathon: Can public transit recover from Covid-19?
‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland
Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.
Equity and Transit Go Hand in Hand for the Pandemic Recovery
Equity illuminates the light at the end of the tunnel for U.S. transit agencies, according to a recent report by the Urban Institute.
NYC Transit Ridership Patterns Have Shifted to the Outer Boroughs
Signs of the times, and more evidence of the essential service provided by public transit throughout the pandemic.
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.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
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