In late March, 15 transportation advocates embarked on a cross-state trip of Michigan using only local and regional transit. Along the way they met with local and state officials and transit advocates. Their experiences highlight both where transit is lacking in Michigan as well as how it could become an economic driver and preferred transportation choice in the future.
transit
Southern California Association of Governments adopts strong sustainability plan
On April 3, the Southern California Association of Governments unanimously adopted a 25 year transportation plan that focuses on transit, road maintenance, walking, biking, sustainability, land use, and reduction of greenhouse gases. Local officials and citizen’s groups alike hailed it as a significant change in strategy for a region notorious for clogged freeways and the worst air quality in the nation.
BRT workshop highlights best practices and marketing
Although there is no official definition of BRT, but some key elements have emerged as cities explore this transit option. It can speed commutes, attract high ridership, and promote economic development. However, proper marketing of BRT, both during the planning and after the line is operational, is key to success.
Land Use Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit (National BRT Institute, 2009)
This report is among the first in recent years in the United States to examine property value impacts from proximity to BRT stations. A hedonic regression model was estimated to isolate the effect of distance from a …
Peer-to-Peer Information Exchange on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Bus Priority Best Practices (FTA, 2011)
The purpose of this effort has been to foster a dialogue among peers at transportation and planning agencies about their experiences with promoting public transit and, in particular, the challenges they face related to bus …
Bus Rapid Transit Practitioner's Guide (Transit Cooperative Research Program, 2007)
This guide explores the costs, impacts, and effectiveness of implementing selected bus rapid transit (BRT) components. The report examines planning and decision making related to implementing different components of BRT systems, and highlights the costs …
Recapturing Global Leadership in Bus Rapid Transit: A Survey of Select U.S. Cities (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, 2011)
Bus Rapid Transit was first implemented in Curitiba, Brazil in 1974, and has become a global phenomenon in the twenty-first century. BRT holds great promise for the United States. This report outlines what it would take to …
“Patent troll” targets transit agencies over vehicle tracking apps
For years, technology companies have battled “patent trolls,” individuals and firms that do not produce products, but instead sue to assert patent rights to various innovations. Now at least one patent troll is targeting U.S. public transit agencies, over bus- and train-tracking applications the agencies make available to customers via smartphones and the Web. The apps, now in common use, represent significant innovation for transit agencies and a boon to riders. But the lawsuits are a legal and financial nightmare for cash-strapped transit operators.
Bike sharing: An on-demand mobility solution
During the National Bike Summit, and the following day at a special session sponsored by FTA and NACTO, local officials and advocates heard about bike sharing best practices, research, funding opportunities, and updates from existing programs.
U.S. Treasury report outlines need for road maintenance, transit investment, and alternatives to driving
A new report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury says that Americans are wasting gas and time every year due to traffic on congested roads. Maintenance costs due to poor road conditions add additional financial burdens to family budgets. In total, the report estimates that insufficiencies in the transportation system and lack of transportation options cost over $100 billion in time and money. However, many news stories have focused only on deficiencies in the road network and missed another message in the report: the need to give commuters alternatives to being stuck in traffic.