The city of Toronto's public transit system has been plagued by dysfunctional service and rider complaints. Officials are looking to Philadelphia for lessons on improving their troubled system.
With sleeping subway collectors and thousands of complaints about customer service, Toronto's public transit system is having major issues with its reputation. Philadelphia's transit system had its own reputation issue a few years back, but managed to find some solutions.
"Toronto officials, plagued with similar complaints, have been in touch with Philadelphia in their search for solutions, said Gary Webster, the TTC's chief general manager.
To transform SEPTA's culture, Casey named a general manager of customer service, Kim Heinle, who has a background in the hospitality industry. They introduced weekly classes in customer service for transit workers.
The system still gets just as many complaints – and Casey admits it's hard to gauge the success of that program. But on the other side of the equation, in two years, customer commendations have doubled."
Read the full story: TTC learning from Philly's transit revival
Toronto Could Give Buses and Streetcars Priority
In a shift away from subway expansions and upgrades, Toronto looks to improve the bus and streetcar systems.
Freedom Rides Transit With Unlimited Transfers
One transit rider sings the praises of an experiment that allows Toronto transit riders a two-hour window of unlimited transfers on the TTC system.
Celebrity Voices to Remind You to Keep Your Feet Off the Seats
From Judi Dench to Queen Latifah, CityLab writers match transit systems with the personalities they think would make the best announcements.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
Denver is solving homelessness. Why aren't the rest of us?
Since 2023, Denver's street homeless population has decreased by 64%, proving that effective tools exist to support those in need of housing.
LA accused of breaching $1.4 billion sidewalk repair settlement
The city faces a backlog of nearly 5,000 street repair requests.
MTA kicks off six-year, $1 billion transit upgrade project
The authority is replacing the roughly 90-year-old train signals on the A and C line with modern technology.
Developers may expand largest gas pipeline network in Northwest
Pipeline giant Williams has proposed new expansions for its Northwest Pipeline from the Colorado Rockies through Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
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
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Montrose County
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority