Public Transit

A diagram showing the street lanes for a proposed bus rapid transit route.

Fairfax County Makes Space for Bus Rapid Transit

A recent decision by the Fairfax, Virginia County Board of Supervisors will ensure that any widening of Route 7 will be reserved for bus rapid transit (BRT).

August 3, 2023 - FFX Now

Muni bus with bike on front bike rack on San Francisco street

Strategies for Speeding Up Bus Service

A new report will highlight solutions for making bus service faster, more reliable, and thus more attractive to riders.

August 1, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Houston Metro bus at a bus stop with bright blur cloudy sky in background

Houston Transit Could Lose a Tenth of Sales Tax Revenue

Agency officials say they will continue to make expansion plans in the face of a potentially dramatic reduction in funding.

August 1, 2023 - Houston Chronicle

Person stands next to pile of burning debris in street holding French flag during Yellow Vest protests

Watch Out for Green Class Backlash

Low emission zones, like that implemented in London, face backlash from critics on all sides of the political spectrum for impacting the poorest drivers and putting a burden on small businesses.

August 1, 2023 - Joan Fitzgerald

A map of the Réseau Express Métropolitain where it cuts across the Montreal region.

New REM Light Rail Launches in Montreal

The first day of public service on the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) light rail route was marred by a closure and delays.

August 1, 2023 - Montreal Gazette

Washington, D.C. Bus Lane

D.C. Buses to Begin All-Door Boarding

Some bus lines will start letting riders board through both front and back doors this fall as part of Metro’s efforts to improve service speed and reliability.

July 31, 2023 - The Washington Post

A map of the planned route of GoTriangle commuter rail.

FTA Rejects North Carolina Commuter Rail Funding

As commuter patterns shift, so too do the transit funding preferences of the federal government.

July 31, 2023 - The News & Observer

Aerial view of downtown Baltimore, Maryland with freeways in foreground

Baltimore 2050 Transportation Plan Perpetuates Auto-Centric Planning

The region’s long-range transportation plan fails to boost investment in transit, opting to fund road expansions instead.

July 30, 2023 - The Baltimore Sun

Close-up of bus driver holding bus steering wheel

How HR Shortcomings are Kneecapping Transit Agencies

Facing severe staffing shortages and high rates of burnout, transit agencies must improve their human resources departments and create healthier work environments to address current lapses in service.

July 27, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Hand holding up a TAP transit fare card to fare collection turnstile

L.A. Metro Introduces Fare Capping Tech

Los Angeles transit riders who pay as they go will have their fare capped at $5 per day or $18 per week.

July 26, 2023 - Business Wire

A map of the route the 16 bus takes along 3rd Street across Los Angeles.

Popular L.A. Bus Line to Replace Schedule With ‘Headway-Based Operations’

Los Angeles’ 16 bus, which cuts across the city on Third Street through some of the city’s densest neighborhoods, will experiment with a new approach to service design.

July 24, 2023 - LAist

White shuttle bus picks up passengers in Zion National Park, red cliffs and mountains in background.

Improving Transit Access to Parks and Trails

Too often, national parks and other recreational spaces in the United States are difficult or impossible to access without a car. Some parks are working to change that.

July 21, 2023 - Streetsblog USA

Maricopa County, Arizona

Phoenix Could Ease Parking Requirements to Support Transit, Affordable Housing

In addition to lower citywide parking requirements on residential properties, a proposed law in Phoenix would lower minimum parking requirements even further for affordable housing developments near the city’s light rail system.

July 20, 2023 - Arizona Central

Blue and yellow light rail train at station in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Transit Ridership Surges in Minneapolis

The city’s transit agency is reporting high rates of return to transit, aided by college students and Taylor Swift fans.

July 20, 2023 - Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Hydrogen-powered zero-emissions public bus

Champaign-Urbana Awarded Grant to Electrify Bus Fleet

Funding from the Low or No Emission Vehicle federal program will help the city replace its buses with new electric and other zero- or low-emission vehicles.

July 19, 2023 - WAND

Red and silver Muni trolley bus connected to overhead wires on San Francisco street

Report: Trolley Buses Best Zero-Emissions Option for San Francisco

To decarbonize its bus system, a new study recommends adding more substantial battery packs to the city’s historic—and all-electric—trolley bus fleet rather than replacing trolley buses with electric buses that require lengthy charging periods.

July 18, 2023 - Streetsblog San Francisco

Graphic of gray Oklahoma City rapid bus against photo of Oklahoma City skyline

Oklahoma City Solicits Public Input on New BRT Lines

City officials presented preliminary plans for new bus routes aimed at connecting neighborhoods previously underserved by transit.

July 18, 2023 - The Oklahoman

Greyhound bus at Philadelphia bus station

Shuttered Bus Terminals Cause Problems for Riders, Cities

The closure of intercity bus stations is putting passengers out on the curb.

July 17, 2023 - Governing

An eastbound Amtrak Empire Builder passes through the Cascade Mountains as the trees turn fall colors in Skykomish, WA

A Look at Amtrak’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

The agency wants to add new lines, improve service, and modernize its fleet as part of a $75 billion plan to revive U.S. train travel.

July 16, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Blue RideKC bus in Kansas City with trees in background

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.

July 14, 2023 - KCUR

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