Public Transportation

Young man wearing headphones and holding a coffee cup standing on a city bus

The Future of Public Transit: The Bus

The solution to making public transit better doesn’t lie in technological innovations or hyper-modern trains, but in investing in one of its simplest tools.

March 6, 2023 - The Conversation

SEPTA bus stopped in front of Independence Hall, Phialdelphia, Pennsylvania

Digging Into SEPTA’s Problems

Philadelphia’s transit agency faces some structural challenges as it struggles to reorganize its services and bring back ridership.

January 22, 2023 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Public Transit Ridership

How Mass Transit Can Adapt to Post-Pandemic Needs

With commuter ridership playing a smaller role in transit operations, agencies must reorganize their services around different travel schedules and patterns.

January 11, 2023 - Governing

Passengers line up to board a bus at a bus rapid transit station in Indianapolis.

2023 Could Be a Breakthrough Year for Buses

Funding bus rapid transit is the fastest and most cost-effective way to improve U.S. transit systems and bring transit within reach for more Americans.

December 28, 2022 - Curbed

White NJ Transit bus

New Jersey Transit Will Ban Riders Who Assault Workers

As part of a bill passed to protect transit operators from violence and abuse, NJ Transit is creating a policy for banning violent passengers, permanently in some cases.

December 18, 2022 - NJ.com

Blurry view of semi-crowded subway car

Best Cities for Transit, Ranked

Unsurprisingly, cities in Asia and Europe top the list.

December 5, 2022 - Bloomberg CityLab

Two Chicago elevated trains with city buildings in background

Scorecard Will Track Chicago Transit Recovery

A new scorecard from the Chicago Transit Authority will update the public on the agency’s progress on key issues like service delivery, frequency, and infrastructure improvements.

October 25, 2022 - Streetsblog Chicago

Blue and yellow light rail train pulling into outdoor station in St. Paul, MInnesota

Twin Cities Volunteers Help Recent Immigrants Navigate Transit

Showing refugee and immigrant residents how to use public transportation can improve access to essential services, jobs, and education, but a more robust transit system is needed to effectively serve all who need it.

September 20, 2022 - Next City

Bus riders standing on crowded city bus, holding top rail

Report: Improved Service Key to Growing Bus Ridership

A NACTO report highlights the importance of bus-friendly policies and infrastructure for boosting ridership numbers and reducing urban congestion and pollution.

August 24, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

MARTA Station

Atlanta Transit Could Go Fare-Free

The city has tasked the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority with evaluating the feasibility of eliminating transit fares.

August 5, 2022 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rockaway Beach Bus

The Benefits of Fare Capping

Fare capping—putting a ceiling on the amount a transit passenger pays in a day or a month regardless of the number of trips—is becoming a popular policy option for transit agencies seeking to increase equity and bring back riders.

August 1, 2022 - Governing

A group of police officers wearing masks during the Covid-19 pandemic gather on a subway platform in New York City.

Safety Concerns Driving Riders Away From Transit

Public transit systems in major U.S. cities are struggling to restore their image after rising crime rates led to heightened security concerns among riders.

July 12, 2022 - Governing

MARTA Bus

Atlanta One Step Closer to Bus Rapid Transit

The city’s transit agency says bus rapid transit will be cheaper and faster to build than light rail.

July 3, 2022 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Baltimore MTA Bus

Baltimore Leaders Call on City To Think Big on Transit

With federal infrastructure funding on the table, local leaders are calling for a comprehensive strategy to improve the region’s public transit.

July 1, 2022 - Maryland Matters

Bus Service

Big City Transit Agencies Face Budget Shortfalls

As rainy day funds and federal aid dwindle, transit agencies formerly reliant on farebox revenue are exploring new ways to fund their operations.

June 29, 2022 - Governing

Entrance to Ronstadt Transit Center, Tucson, Arizona

Tucson Extends Free Transit To End of Year

After eliminating transit fares in 2020, the city of Tucson is exploring ways to fund a permanent program.

June 22, 2022 - Tucson.com

MARTA Station

Atlanta Transit Agency Issues $1.3 Billion Budget

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority says it is ‘well-positioned’ to resume pre-pandemic operations and make capital improvements in the coming years.

June 15, 2022 - Mass Transit

Bus riders wearing masks on a New York City bus

Post-Pandemic Transit Likely To Remain Less Commuter-Focused

While the future of transit ridership depends on a range of still-uncertain factors, the commuter-centric patterns that characterized pre-COVID transit service are probably a thing of the past.

May 11, 2022 - Seattle Transit Blog

Salt Lake City, Utah

Opinion: Utah Transportation Bill a Step in the Right Direction

A Utah mayor writes in support of state legislation that tasks state agencies with coordinating major transit projects, citing it as a positive step toward accommodating Utah’s explosive growth.

May 10, 2022 - Deseret News

A bus stop in Philadelphia, where people wait under a glass shelter for a bus as it arrives.

How Pennsylvania Will Benefit From Federal Transit Funding

Pennsylvania is set to receive over $600 million for public transit and mobility, but state leaders have yet to make decisions about specific projects.

April 13, 2022 - WDIY

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

HUD’s 2023 Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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