Downtown businesses are helping fund an innovative program to get more downtown workers out of their cars and onto public transit.
"About 43,000 Downtown [Columbus] workers will be eligible for bus passes, free to them, starting next summer under a unique program drawing national interest," reports Kimball Perry.
The free transit passes are intended to provide a viable alternative to solo commutes—which downtown stakeholders hope will ease the area's expensive reliance on parking. Local businesses are helping to fund the free transit pass program, which backs up an argument for the economic viability of transit subsidies. According to Perry, "the 550 owners of Downtown property in a Special Improvement District agreed to pay 3 cents per square foot of space per year to help fund the program. That will raise about half of the $5 million needed to pay for the COTA passes for eligible Downtown workers. The rest will come from grants and other fundraising."
The board of directors of Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District voted to approve the program last week, after first making news for considering the program back in March 2017.
FULL STORY: Program approved to give free bus passes to Downtown workers
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.
Every Worker in Downtown Columbus Could Have a Free Bus Pass Coming Their Way
A program under consideration by the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District could be the envy of central business district's all over the country.
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)