Many commuters still find buses, trains, and subways to be more cost-effective than driving. However, mass transit funds are drying up, and increased fees and decreased service may deter riders from sticking to mass transit.
"The American Public Transportation Assn., which lobbies on behalf of local transit agencies in Washington, is hoping Congress will add another $2.5 billion for operating expenses to the stimulus bill, which could go to the House floor as early as next week.
'Today, transit systems of all sizes are cutting service and planning immediate employee layoffs,' wrote William W. Millar, the APTA president, in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Jan. 16. 'Public transportation services should not be cut when the United States is attempting to reduce its levels of energy consumption.'
In addition to skepticism about the stimulus strategy in general, the idea of using the stimulus money to fund operating costs may be a particularly hard sell politically.
Ronald D. Utt, a research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said such spending was essentially a way to avoid subsidizing fares for transit riders. 'That's really not consistent with the purpose of the stimulus plan, which is to create jobs,' he said.
Proponents argue that operating subsidies would help the economy by preempting transit layoffs. But some concede that it would only temporarily address the core problem – which is the decline in local tax collections."
FULL STORY: A mass transit dilemma: Ridership up, funds down

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?

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response
Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
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