Public Transit

Debt Limit Talks Dim Prospects for Addressing Nation’s Housing Crisis

The president has proposed freezing spending, which could impact additional funding for housing, public health and transit projects.

  • By Kery Murakami

City Greenlights Autonomous Vehicle Testing for Public Transit

Phoenix wants AV providers to test automated driving systems to help it make decisions about future public transit.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Congestion Pricing in Manhattan Clears Federal Hurdle

The city still has to determine the details before New York becomes the first American city to charge for the right to drive on certain roads.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Low-Cost, High-Quality Public Transportation Will Serve the Public Better Than Free Rides

COMMENTARY | Everyone likes getting something for nothing, but history shows why the math behind free public transit doesn’t add up.

  • By Nicholas Dagen Bloom, The Conversation

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
Featured eBooks
Road and Transit Infrastructure Trends
Federal Recovery Funds at the State and Local Level
Infrastructure at a Turning Point

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

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