Public Transit

Why the Humble City Bus is the Key to Improving US Public Transit

COMMENTARY | High-quality bus service is the fastest route to rapid, comprehensive public transit in the United States. This country was once a leader in bus transit, and with adequate funding, it could be again.

  • By Nicholas Dagen Bloom, The Conversation

‘Ghost Buses’ Haunt Transit Agencies and Frustrate Riders

Transit agencies should release canceled or delayed bus data to the public to avoid unhappy travelers, experts say.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

Over $1 Billion Now Available to Convert Bus Fleets to Cleaner Fuels

Purchases of electric and hydrogen-powered buses are among the projects eligible for a new round of federal grants.

  • By Bill Lucia

New Federal Cash Headed to Trail Projects Nationwide

Some of the money is from earmarks included in a recent federal spending package. The funding comes as bike and pedestrian trail use has been on the rise.

  • By Molly Bolan

City Bus Reliability Picks Up With Automatic Vehicle Location Tech

Real-time location data increases the efficiency of bus operations and boosts rider trust.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Ridership Trends Emerge From Transit Data Archive

The nation’s local transit data now sits in a centralized archive, giving officials an understanding of how communities use transportation systems.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Transit Agency Pilots Gun Detection Tech

Philadelphia’s SEPTA will test an AI-based video analytics solution that aims to reduce gun-related violence on train platforms.

  • By Chris Teale

States Test an Electrifying Idea: Roads That Can Recharge Your EV

Some states will embed electromagnetic coils in roads to recharge electric vehicles while they’re moving.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

Testing Out New Transportation Options in the Nation’s Capital

Washington, D.C. officials are hoping a “mobility innovation district” will help address equity concerns.

  • By Molly Bolan

Against Federal Guidance, States Plan to Expand Highways

A new report says money from the infrastructure package could be funneled to “highway boondoggles.”

  • By Joseph Winters, Grist

How Federal Infrastructure Funds Can Build More Accessible Transit Systems

COMMENTARY | By taking significant steps towards increasing accessibility, public transit systems will better incorporate equity and social mobility into their operations.

  • By Aline Frantzen

Can Uber-like Public Transit Replace Old-fashioned Buses?

Transit agencies are turning to on-demand, shared-ride services to reach underserved communities.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline
Featured eBooks
Road and Transit Infrastructure Trends
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Infrastructure at a Turning Point

Farebox Shortfalls Soon to Create ‘Sizable' Transit Budget Gaps

The problem is looming for big city transit agencies in places like New York and San Francisco, with ridership unlikely to recover before federal pandemic aid dries up, Fitch Ratings warns.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Transit Agencies Vulnerable to Cyber Threats, Researchers Warn

They say the sector is in need of a "twenty-first century security upgrade" and that physical infrastructure is sometimes supported by obsolete software.

  • By Chris Teale

Taking the Friction Out of Regional Transit Payments

With an upgraded app, Cleveland-area riders can buy fares for 14 transit agencies across the region.

  • By Shourjya Mookerjee

Automated Buses Will Still Need Skilled Human Operators

Even as buses incorporate more automated features, the complexity of driving near pedestrians and in changing weather will require trained human operators, a new report says.

  • By Shourjya Mookerjee

The Big Local Transit Projects the Biden Administration Wants to Fund

The president’s new budget proposal calls for directing hundreds of millions of dollars in construction grants to bus and rail improvements across six states.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Women Pay More for Transportation Than Men

A new white paper shows that women pay a “pink tax” because they have fewer mass transit options due to safety concerns and caring for children and the elderly.

  • By Andre Claudio

Feds Award $2.2B in Grants to Local Transit Agencies

The money is meant to help with payroll and other day-to-day costs, as some bus and subway operators continue to struggle with ridership declines.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

The Difficult Push to Build More Housing Near Transit

Some states and cities are adopting policies to promote dense development near bus and rail lines. But it can be a hard sell politically and sometimes has unintended consequences.

  • By Jared Brey

Transit Agencies Lease Real Estate to Generate Much-Needed Cash

They must replace revenue from riders, who have been slow to return.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline