One writer argues that improving transit in major cities would boost local economies and prove that positive change is possible.

Writing in Governing, Aaron M. Renn lays out an argument for prioritizing public transit reform in big cities. “Not only is it a genuinely critical need, but it’s an area where tangible progress can be made and the public will see it right away,” Renn writes. In big cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston—even in the age of remote work—transit “enables the dense, large-scale agglomeration of workers that gives central business districts the highest economic output in the country.”
“The problems are serious, but transit has a number of characteristics that make it a great place to focus governance energy on fixing.” First, Renn writes, it’s not reinventing the wheel: there are many global examples of functional, efficient public transit systems to draw lessons from. At the same time, “Most of the states where these systems are located have little if any anti-transit sentiment,” making transit reform a more easily achievable goal than other, more politicized issues.
For Renn, improving transit is about more than making transportation more effective for urban residents. Transit reform could help restore public faith in government and “create momentum” for solving much thornier challenges.
FULL STORY: Why We Can Fix Big-City Transit — and Why We Need To

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.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems
SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope
Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects
The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.
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