Transit advocates worry that the movement to eliminate fares will come at a high cost to transit-dependent riders who rely on frequent, reliable service to reach jobs and services.

While many transit agencies are considering reducing or eliminating fares to boost ridership, some policymakers worry that the lost revenue will have a negative impact on transit service and the people who rely on it, writes Luz Lazo in The Washington Post.
Local transportation and political leaders say that while the pandemic has harmed transit, it also highlighted its critical role for 'essential' workers. Many kept riding to get to jobs at grocery stores, restaurants and hospitals as workers with more flexibility stayed home. Bus ridership has fared better than rail ridership during the pandemic, in large part because of service workers.
With fare revenue sometimes covering as much as a quarter of transit operations, agencies that eliminate fares must rely more heavily on other local, state, and federal funding sources. In the Washington D.C. region, Lazo writes, "loss of fare revenue would translate to nearly $170 million that jurisdictions would need to find from federal, state or local sources."
Lazo details the fare reduction proposals of various D.C.-area agencies, but cites surveys showing that frequency and convenient routes play a more important role in whether people choose to use transit than cost. Reduced fares can encourage more people to use public transportation, but only if it takes them where they need to go. Meanwhile, riders who rely on it worry that reduced service will make it even more difficult to get around.
The concept of fare-free transit picked up steam during the pandemic as transit agencies sought ways to bring riders back. Advocates say eliminating fares is an important step toward transit equity. And, to be clear, the structural deficits of transit operations still threaten the future of public transit.
FULL STORY: Bus systems are eyeing lower fares, leaving passengers and advocates to wonder at what cost

America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.

Massachusetts Zoning Reform Law Reaches First Deadline
Cities and towns had until January 31 to submit their draft plans for rezoning areas near transit stations to comply with a new state law.

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.

Seattle Historic District Could Remove Street Dining
Despite the popularity of Ballard Avenue’s outdoor dining pergolas, some district board members argue the patios don’t match the district’s historic character.

South L.A. Complete Streets Project Back on Track
First proposed in 2015, the Broadway-Manchester redesign would add bike infrastructure, pedestrian improvements, trees, and other amenities.

Santa Barbara Expands ADU Program to Boost Housing
The city hopes that permitting larger ADUs and making adaptive reuse easier will help it meet its state-mandated goal of building over 8,000 new housing units by 2031.
Ascent Environmental
California Polytechnic State University
City of Albuquerque Planning Department
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Hercules
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
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.