Transit ridership has been waning in Charlottesville, Virginia, but a regional system could benefit the area’s operators and better meet the mobility needs of riders.
A regional transit system in Charlottesville, Virginia, could be the solution to the area's mobility challenges, including a drop in ridership on the Charlottesville Area Transit system of more than 25 percent in the last five years.
"By [CAT director Garland] Williams' own admission the current system is failing riders due to unreliability, decreasing coverage, and one-way routes that serve CAT better than they do its customers," writes Wyatt Gordon.
The Jefferson Area Regional Transit Partnership Expansion is an advisory body exploring expansion through establishment of a regional transit authority. An authority would bring together the three transit operations in the area: CAT, University of Virginia’s student shuttle, and JAUNT, a microtransit service for regional commuters.
"If the three are able to stitch together their services under one umbrella as a regional transit authority that could unlock new state and federal funding that none are eligible for on their own," notes Gordon.
The Charlottesville area is facing increased housing costs, congestion, and pollution, making improved mobility a policy priority. "With sprawl on the rise and more locals driving to work from far-flung counties, it makes sense that the region is seeing a renewed push for transit—and may be willing to pay for it," adds Gordon.
Read the full story: Could regional expansion solve Charlottesville, Virginia’s transit “death spiral?”
Denton Plans to Replace Most Bus Routes With On-Demand Microtransit
Transit advocates worry that outsourcing fixed-route service will decrease service levels and raise costs for riders.
On-Demand Transit in Houston: There's an App for That
The city of Houston this week launched an app for its Community Connector shuttle service as part of a ten-month pilot project.
On-Demand Shuttle Pilot Operating in Los Angeles
The LAnow on-demand shuttle began operation earlier this month.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Satanic place names
From streams and lakes to valleys and canyons, I mapped more than 1,000 places named after the Devil.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority