Service Cuts

White RIPTA transit bus in Providence, Rhode Island with crowd of passengers boarding at bus stop.

RIPTA Ridership Dropped 12% After Cuts Forced Riders to Quit Jobs, Lengthen Commutes

Rhode Island transit riders are being forced into hours-long commutes after RIPTA drastically reduced service last fall.

March 18, 2026 - Ocean State Media

Underground transit station in San Francisco, California with few passengers waiting for trains.

BART Announces Major Service Cuts, Fare Increases in Face of $376M Deficit

If a November ballot measure fails to bring new funding, BART’s ‘alternative service plan’ would reduce frequencies to 30 minutes, raise fares by 30%, and close up to 15 stations.

March 3, 2026 - Mass Transit

A white RIPTA bus with a bike on a front bike rack at a stop in Providence, Rhode Island.

Cash-Strapped RIPTA Unveils Massive Cuts to Bus Service Across the State

Just 9 bus routes untouched as agency proposes to slash trips but CEO remains mum on potential layoffs.

July 25, 2025 - Rhode Island Current

Close-up of front of Portland public bus with TriMet ad on front reading "TriMet: How Life Moves"

Portland Transit Agency Announces Planned Service Cuts

TriMet says the state legislature’s failure to pass a bill that would have funded transit means it will have to make significant service cuts over the next several years.

July 24, 2025 - TriMet News

St. Louis Transit

Bus Service Cut in St. Louis Again

Metro Transit has bus transit operations in St. Louis for the third time in seven months due to systemwide staff shortages.

June 13, 2023 - St. Louis Riverfront Times

Portland Bus Lane

Bus Service Cut in Portland as Driver Shortage Lingers

Like many transit agencies around the country, the regional transit agency for Portland, Oregon is struggling to attract enough bus drivers to maintain planned levels of transit service.

June 28, 2022 - TriMet

Capitol Hill

More Transit Agencies Propose Cuts; Congress Finally Takes Notice

The stakes in the economic stimulus package under consideration on Capitol Hill this week are incredibly high.

December 3, 2020 - The Washington Post

Baltimore Public Transit

Baltimore Bus Service Cuts Restored

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan rescinded a plan that would have cut bus service in the city of Baltimore to the bone.

October 2, 2020 - Baltimore Sun

Orange Line

Devastating Transit Cuts Planned for Maryland

The impact of the coronavirus on capital budgets has been feared for the duration of the pandemic, and the catastrophic reality of those fears is now apparent in a proposed capital budget for transportation in the state of Maryland.

September 8, 2020 - WBAL

New York Public Transit

Why, and How, to Cut Public Transit Service

There wasn't a playbook for this kind of emergency at the beginning of the year.

April 19, 2020 - Human Transit

New York Subway

Op-Ed: NYC Transit Service Cuts Wrong Way to Bolster Budget

The agency could see an influx of capital funds from congestion pricing, but cuts to bus and rail service to make up for budget shortfalls would result in long-term setbacks to the system.

September 26, 2019 - Crain's New York Business

Garcetti Expo Line

From April to May in L.A.: From a Green New Deal to Transit Service Cuts

Can Los Angeles convince drivers to cut the number of automobile trips in half while also transit frequency on several light rail lines?

May 24, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Transit Fail

New York MTA Threatens Service Cuts, Increased Fares

A New York transit advocate says the MTA is entering a "death spiral" of reduced service and higher fares that will lead to fewer riders and then additional reduced service and higher fares.

November 26, 2018 - The Guardian

Chicago

No Fare Hikes for Chicago in 2019 Budget

The Chicago Transit Agency 2019 includes a flyover at the Belmont train station, rehabs for two Blue Line stops, and Red and Purple Line modernizations, among other things.

October 27, 2018 - Streetsblog

Denver's Regional Transportation District Cuts Bus Service

Low ridership and driver shortages mean the Denver area's Regional Transportation District cut bus service.

August 27, 2018 - The Denver Post

Everett, Washington

Everett Transit Forced to Make Tough Choices on Fares, Service

It's going to be tough to be a transit user in the Seattle suburb of Everett.

August 9, 2018 - The Urbanist

Metro Transit Minneapolis

Twin Cities Bus Driver Shortage Cuts 67 Bus Trips a Day

Forty bus routes are losing trips because the Twin Cities have been unable to recruit and retain sufficient drivers to run the system.

August 3, 2018 - Minnesota Public Radio News

Transit Board Votes Against Bus Fares

A 3-2 vote determined that Whidbey Island, north of Seattle, will continue to offer rides for free.

June 30, 2018 - South Whidbey Register

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority

Tampa Bay's HART Bus System will Lose 20 Percent of its Routes

Cuts mean an already meager transit service will cover less of the sprawling Hillsburough County Community.

August 12, 2017 - Tampa Bay Times

Lafayette BART

Passage of 12-Cent Gas Tax Hike Allows BART to Reduce Service Cuts

The gas tax bill couldn't pass soon enough for the Bay Area's metro system. Service cuts and fare increases, scheduled for approval April 13, were greatly reduced due to an unexpected $16 million BART will receive, and the bill has yet to be signed!

April 17, 2017 - SF Gate

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

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