Amid a nationwide bus driver shortage, transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area haven’t been able to fill vacant positions fast enough.
San Francisco Bay Area transit operators are grappling with a shortage of bus drivers, leading agencies such as SamTrans to cancel hundreds of trips in recent months and even shut down a route, writes Nico Savidge.
"The problem isn’t limited to public transit either — Bay Area school districts have similarly struggled to find drivers amid a tight labor market, high cost of living and competition with charter companies and tech-industry shuttles," reports Savidge.
SamTrans is stepping up recruiting and training efforts in order to fill positions as drivers retire. AC Transit is partnering with local organizations to find new drivers. In the Santa Clara Valley, VTA is using its mentoring program and working with its drivers’ union to help with recruiting.
"[John Courtney of Amalgamated Transit Union local 265 in San Jose] said he would 'certainly' support a measure like the one San Francisco voters just approved taxing ride-hailing companies to fund better public transportation and hire new drivers," adds Savidge.
FULL STORY: Canceled trips and stranded riders as Bay Area grapples with bus driver shortage
APTA Requests CDL Testing Change to Address Bus Operator Shortage
Eighty-four percent of U.S. transit agencies surveyed said CDL complexity was a hiring obstacle, with the “under-the-hood” requirement being the most challenging.
S.F. Bay Area Fare Integration Study Voted Down
Transit officials pass on a proposal to take a closer look at the possibility of an integrated fare system that would simplify transit travel in the Bay Area.
Why Are Transit Agencies So Understaffed?
More than nine in 10 U.S. transit agencies face operator shortages. A new report sheds light on the reasons why they’re having such a hard time attracting new hires.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
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.
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions