Real estate's favorite tool for gauging neighborhood walkability now has a companion for transit, Kaid Benfield reports.
As we mentioned earlier this month, the company Walk Score has made a name for itself by creating a system that anyone can use to determine how walkable a neighborhood is. Now, they're expanding that service to measure the usability of transit, too.
According to the index, the nation's top ten cities for transit are (in ascending order):
- Portland, OR (Transit Score: 50)
- Baltimore, MD (57)
- Miami, FL (57)
- Seattle, WA (59)
- Chicago, IL (65)
- Philadelphia, PA (68)
- Washington, D.C. (69)
- Boston, MA (74)
- San Francisco, CA (80)
- New York, NY (81)
Perhaps not surprisingly, the best eight cities for transit top Walk Score's walkability index, too (in a slightly different order).
Benfield explains how the numbers were crunched: "In calculating a Transit Score for a particular location, a 'usefulness' value is assigned to nearby transit routes based on frequency of service, type of route, and distance to the nearest stop on the route. City scores are then calculated by applying the Transit Score algorithm block-by-block throughout the city and weighting the scores by population density. Walk Score's web site contains a detailed description of the methodology used in the transit ratings."
FULL STORY: America's best cities for public transportation
The High-Tech Urban Experience, Now Standardized
The seven largest metros in the nation are teaming up to unify the technologies that are revolutionizing life in the city, Steve Towns reports.
Bike Share Lessons From the Pandemic
Bike share data from six U.S. cities offer insight into how Americans have changed travel patterns during the pandemic.
Hotels Could Play a Critical Role in Containing Coronavirus in Crowded Cities
Some cities are leasing entire hotels to provide rooms for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to infected people, to allow for safe and supportive isolation away from family or household members who risk being infected.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service