A NACTO report highlights the importance of bus-friendly policies and infrastructure for boosting ridership numbers and reducing urban congestion and pollution.
To grow bus ridership, improve service. That’s the conclusion of a new (but unsurprising) report from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), writes Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive.
More specifically, the report highlights three key areas where transit agencies and city officials can take action: ensuring all-day, frequent bus service; redesigning streets for buses with dedicated bus lanes, signal priority, and improved infrastructure; and adopting broader policy reforms that support transit, such as adjusting parking fees, discouraging driving, and promoting walkability and mixed-use development.
The report provides examples of successful initiatives, such as New York City’s 14th Street busway and transit signal priority in Minneapolis. It also highlights the potential for speedy action from local agencies. “For example, faced with the need to shut down a major subway line for repairs this month, Boston quickly created dedicated bus lanes and implemented parking restrictions along several major streets to allow for temporary shuttle bus services.”
FULL STORY: Dedicated lanes, frequent service key to increasing bus ridership: NACTO
NYC Bus Service Hindered by Congestion
Sharing lanes with car traffic may make it impossible for the MTA to increase service frequency.
Los Angeles Adding 30 Miles of Bus Lanes in 2023
An ambitious plan to improve L.A. County’s bus network is bearing fruit.
D.C. Bus Priority Plan To Expand Bus Lanes and Improve Service
A new plan from DDOT describes 51 bus priority projects aimed at improving service and making transit accessible to more D.C. commuters and residents.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont