Transit Equity
Opinion: Free Transit Has Proven Itself
Eliminating transit fares can have benefits that ripple across a local economy and improve livelihoods.
Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side
The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.
Less Than Half of Head Start Centers Near Transit
Just 42 percent of the nation’s Head Start early education centers are within walkable distance for parents with toddlers.
New York Launches Free Transit Pilot on Five Bus Lines
The lines were chosen based on the income levels, ridership, and lack of subway access in surrounding neighborhoods.
Opinion: Fare Evasion Punished Disproportionately in California
A bill currently on Governor Newsom’s desk would replace punitive measures with more equitable and compassionate approaches to fare enforcement.
How to Measure Transit Equity
A new report highlights the need to go beyond traditional equity metrics to assess how public transit systems are serving the lowest-income and most disadvantaged riders.
Shared Mobility as Essential Transit
Research reveals that shared bikes and scooters are often a crucial lifeline for low-income workers, signaling a need to include micromobility in the larger public transit conversation.
Lessons in Transit Equity
Two of the nation’s largest transit agencies outline how they are integrating equity concerns into their work.
Transit Advocates Fear On-Demand Microtransit Undermines Bus Service
A new on-demand transit service is meant to fill gaps in Kansas City regional bus service, but some transit supporters worry the service is drawing funding away from fixed-route buses.
L.A. Metro Launches Fare Capping Program
Transit fares will be capped at $5 per day for all riders who pay with TAP cards, whether or not they have weekly or monthly passes.
Pittsburgh Aims for Equitable Mobility
A two-year pilot program aims to provide an integrated, multimodal, and affordable transportation system across the city combining transit, bikes, e-scooters, and other options.
Connecticut’s Ends Fare-Free Pilot
State officials say federal requirements forced the end of a twelve-month pilot program, and that the state doesn’t have the funding to continue providing free fares with the end of federal assistance.
Study: Transit Cuts Can Increase Poverty, Unemployment
An analysis of Clayton County, Georgia, which lost access to public transit for five years, shows a significant increase in unemployment rates and poverty during that timeframe.
Opinion: Improving Transit More Important Than Free Fares
More investments in high-quality transit service coupled with income-based discounts could offer a better way to boost ridership and help low-income riders.
D.C. Transit Recovery ‘Slow and Bumpy’
Transit service in the District has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with Black and low-income riders feeling the brunt of the impact.
Assessing Transit Equity in Boston
The Transit Equity Dashboard highlights stark disparities in access to jobs, healthcare, and other essential services between Boston neighborhoods.
Digging Into SEPTA’s Problems
Philadelphia’s transit agency faces some structural challenges as it struggles to reorganize its services and bring back ridership.
Free Fares for Buses? Don’t Forget the Trains
Fare-free programs that apply to buses and not trains create a fragmented transit system and encourage more people to use slower, less efficient modes.
Study: In Lieu of Free Fares, Transit Needs a Cash Option
Many of the riders who rely on public transit the most are also least likely to be able to use cashless fare systems.
D.C. Could Give Residents $100 Transit Subsidy
A proposed bill would distribute $100 in transit fare to District residents and provide $10 million to improving bus and streetcar services in underserved neighborhoods.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
