A program under consideration by the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District could be the envy of central business district's all over the country.
"More than 40,000 Downtown workers could receive free bus service under a plan to free up thousands of parking spaces and increase the renting of office space," reports Kimball Perry.
The free bus service would cost $5 million for about 2.5 years of free rides. The funds necessary for the program would come from "550 owners of properties in the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, who would pay 3 cents per square foot of space per year," reports Perry.
An earlier test program found that free transit passes doubled the number of bus commuters in the district. The program is designed to benefit property owners in the district, who are facing office vacancy rates of 19 percent and falling rents. If the free bus pass program is opened to all 41,165 people who work in the district, according to Perry, "Capital Crossroads estimates that it would free up 2,400 parking spaces — about four parking garages — and allow for 2,900 more people to work in the district."
Hat tip to Angie Schmitt for sharing the article.
FULL STORY: Building owners might subsidize free bus passes for 40,000 Downtown workers
Downtown Columbus Workers to Get Free Transit Passes
Downtown businesses are helping fund an innovative program to get more downtown workers out of their cars and onto public transit.
Free Transit Pass Program Extended in Columbus
According to Columbus officials, transit ridership to and from downtown doubled in the years since the city implemented a free transit pass program.
Boston to Pilot Free Transit Passes for Workers in Commercial Districts
The city of Boston will undertake an experiment about how to center public transit as an economic recovery tool.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
Zero-Emission Bus Fleets Grow, But Federal Funding Is in Jeopardy
Transit agencies around the country have purchased over 7,000 zero-emission buses, but a federal program that funds the shift could be eliminated under the new administration.
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.
Wisconsin Governor Opens Window for Regional Transit Authority
The proposed state budget includes a provision that allows local governments to establish a dedicated transit tax.
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.
Strategic Economics Inc
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service