Albuquerque is the largest U.S. city yet to offer free rides on its entire system of buses with a one-year pilot program that launched at the beginning of the year.
"On Jan. 1, Albuquerque started a year-long experiment: allowing everyone to use city buses — which normally cost $1 per ride — for free," reports Savannah Maher for Marketplace.
Albuquerque is joining a growing list of cities to offer fare-free access to some or all bus routes in the city. Maher lists cities like Missoula, Montana, Olympia, Washington, and Richmond, Virginia as examples. The mayor of Boston, Michelle Wu, also recently announced a plan to make some bus routes in that city free to ride. "But with more than half a million residents, Albuquerque is the largest U.S. city to experiment with zero-fare transit at this scale," according to Maher.
Lan Sena, city council representative for the west side of the city, home to "a lot of people we’ve come to know as essential workers," is quoted in the article saying that fare-free transit will attract riders back to the system and give low-income residents a break during tough times.
The article digs into some of the personal experiences of bus riders in Albuquerque and some of the implications of fare-free transit in the broader field of transportation planning and funding.
FULL STORY: Albuquerque’s bus system starts zero-fare experiment for 2022
Opinion: Free Fares Won’t Solve the Transit Crisis
“The biggest US transit agencies must be allowed to simply focus on delivering high-quality service. There is no Plan B.”
Free Rides, Overnight Service Considered for Metro Transit in D.C.
Washington, D.C. councilmembers are making a bold commitment to public transit.
D.C. Metro Seeks Public Input on Proposed Service Cuts
D.C. Metro Seeks Public Input on Proposed Service Cuts
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie