Designing Transit Networks That People Will Actually Use

Eric Jaffe examines the unusual success of transit in Broward County, Florida, proving that a little route planning goes a long way.

2 minute read

May 23, 2012, 6:00 AM PDT

By Ryan Lue


When it comes to transit, ridership is often the determining metric of a system's success. The challenge of keeping commuters on the bus is especially daunting for mid-sized metros (population: 1 to 5 million), where sprawl is so deeply ingrained as to make other forms of public transit unfeasible. But even in the face of that challenge, Florida's Broward County operates one of the strongest bus-only transit networks in its class, beating out better-known metro areas like Austin, Charlotte, Indianapolis, and Phoenix.

In a study released earlier this month, researchers from Florida State University analyzed exactly how Broward manages to keep per capita ridership so high, finding that the key lies in decentralizing the network – that is, focusing on interconnectivity rather than direct lines to the nearest downtown.

The report concludes that "in Broward County, workers use transit to get to jobs in a multitude of locations that do not possess the built environment characteristics long thought to be important by most scholars in determining transit ridership."

In that sense, an efficient system, both for riders and for transit authorities, depends on giving commuters enough credit to navigate their way across multiple routes. "That travel time was a significant factor but transfer time was not underscores the efficiency of multi-destination grids," Jaffe writes. "Contrary to popular wisdom, connections can often save time and reduce a system's complexity (a point Jarrett Walker hammers home in his book, Human Transit.)"

Jaffe concludes that "while a wholesale war on sprawl may be important for the long-term success of cities, a simple shift to a multi-destination transit system might have a more immediate impact on ridership (not to mention more political palatability)."

Monday, May 21, 2012 in The Atlantic Cities

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight