A plan to redesign the bus system in New York City for faster, more frequent service is off the shelf and moving forward again after being paused at the beginning fo the pandemic.

"It will be five years longer than expected by the time MTA has redesigned all of its ancient bus networks borough-by-borough," reports Kevin Duggan.
"The plan to modernize the bus networks was supposed to wrap 'within three years' of its launch in 2018 — in other words by 2021 — under then-NYCT chief and 'train daddy' Andy Byford," explains Duggan. "But MTA put the plans put on hold during the pandemic, with only a revamp of Staten Island’s Express Bus network in place and the other boroughs at different stages of their overhauls."
The bus system redesign isn't the only major transportation change running slowly during the planning phase—the city's proposed congestion pricing scheme is also behind schedule and facing further delays.
As reported by Duggan in August, acting MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced that the agency would relaunch the redesign system first in the Bronx. "The borough already had a final redesign plan before the pandemic outbreak," according to Duggan in the more recent article.
"The Queens redesign had a draft proposal, and Brooklyn was at a more preliminary stage, with just a report on that borough bus network’s current conditions, and 'internal work' continues for those two boroughs for now, according to MTA."
The city of Dallas is the most recent major city to approve a major redesign of its bus system, with implementation scheduled in early 2022. Los Angeles has also been rolling out a redesigned bus system, with some hiccups, throughout the year.
FULL STORY: MTA delays bus network redesign completion until 2026, blames COVID-19 pandemic

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

Tacoma Developing New Housing Policy
The city’s Home in Tacoma plan is designed to address the region’s growth and rising housing prices, but faces local backlash over density and affordability concerns.

Green Alleys: A New Paradigm for Stormwater Management
Rather than shuttling stormwater away from the city and into the ocean as quickly as possible, Los Angeles is now—slowly—moving toward a ‘city-as-sponge’ approach that would capture and reclaim more water to recharge crucial reservoirs.

Orange County Project Could Go Forward Under ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The nation’s largest home builder could receive approval for a 530-unit development under an obscure state law as the city of La Habra’s zoning laws hang in limbo after the state rejected its proposed housing plan.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.