Public transit agencies are getting creative in the effort to bring riders back to buses and trains.
"Starting March 1, officials intend to put a weekly fare cap on trips made with OMNY, the 'tap-and-go' fare system," reports Ana Ley for The New York Times.
The threshold for unlimited rides in a seven day period will be set at $33, according to Ley.
The new fare cap is intended to lure riders back to public transit in New York City, where ridership hasn't fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Depending on the popularity of the program, and its effects on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's budget, the fare cap could also be made permanent. For now, the program is scheduled to expire on June 30.
"Although the numbers in New York are climbing, subway ridership in recent weeks has only been hovering at about 58 percent of prepandemic levels, when over five million people packed the trains every weekday," writes Ley.
The state of public transit in the United States at the conclusion of 2021 is tenuous: driver shortages are contributing to service cuts in cities all over the country, and an infusion of federal money has buoyed agencies through declines in ridership and a resulting loss of revenue. Some cities are experimenting with free, or reduced-fare, transit as an enticement to get riders back on buses and trains.
FULL STORY: To Win Riders Back, M.T.A. to Offer Free Rides for ‘Tap-and-Go’ Customers
Fair Fares Program Criticized for Eligibility Threshold
Critics of the city's transit assistance program say limiting eligibility to people living at or below the federal poverty line excludes many low-income New Yorkers who depend on public transit.
Changes to Local Service in the Bronx Benefit Bus Speeds, Ridership
Another example of how improving bus service design can benefit transit riders and transit systems emerges in New York City. More such local system redesigns are on the way soon in the Big Apple.
Redesigned Local Bus Network Launches in the Bronx
A redesigned bus network in the Bronx, planned since October 2019, is now live.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service