Where Frequent Public Transit Rules

When it comes to transit, it's quality, not just quantity.

1 minute read

June 12, 2016, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Grand Central Station

Jim Lopes / Shutterstock

A post on the TransitCenter website uses data gathered with the AllTransit tool "to analyze who exactly benefits from good transit…" 

To describe how AllTransit enabled the analysis, the post first explains that the tool "can distinguish between the transit lines that create communities of regular riders and the infrequent bus and rail service that passes for transit in too many places" when it assigns a Performance Score to "almost any address in the country."

As for the findings of the analysis, the post explains that a surprising amount of Americans live near transit in the 25 largest U.S. cities, plus three more (Atlanta, Cleveland, and Miami):

In every one of the cities analyzed, a majority of the population lives within walking distance of a bus or rail stop—even Jacksonville, Florida, which at 875 square miles is larger than 27 sovereign countries. In 13 of the 28 cities, more than 90 percent of people live within walking distance of transit.

Yet before celebrating too much over these surprisingly positive marks, AllTransit also determines that "most of the transit described above is of poor quality—that is to say, it isn’t frequent enough to be a reliable option transportation option." The post offers a infographics and clear explanations to make critical points about the quality of public transit options in U.S. cities.

Thursday, June 9, 2016 in TransitCenter

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Glass building with green tree behind it.

EPA Terminates $116 Million in Grants for Reducing Emissions from Construction Materials

C-MORE grants were earmarked for industry trade groups and universities.

March 27 - Inside Climate News

White BART trains passing each other on elevated track in Fruitvale, California.

BART Closes $35 Million Deficit

Cost control and revenue generation measures prevented service cuts.

March 27 - Mass Transit

Black hearse seen from behind driving on multilane road.

The New Parisian Hearse is a Bicycle

Sleek, silent, and sustainable, a green trip to the graveyard has hit the streets of the French capital.

March 27 - Momentum Magazine