Public Transit

What kind of transportation future do we want?

COMMENTARY | Autonomous vehicles should be thoughtfully integrated into a balanced transportation system that also accommodates pedestrians, transit riders and cyclists.

  • By Kevin DeGood

Transit agencies scramble to piece together funding as ‘fiscal cliff’ looms

Ridership in San Francisco and New York remains below pre-pandemic levels. As the end of federal aid nears, these agencies are racing to shore up funding.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Infrastructure funding is bringing zero-emission buses to communities that need them most

The awards have already added 1,800 no-emission buses to the nation’s roadways, more than doubling the number of such vehicles in use.

  • By Katie Myers, Grist

Public transit systems remain vulnerable to cyber threats

Despite repeated warnings, a report on Washington, D.C.’s transit authority finds it is still at risk of a cyberattack. Its issues aren’t unique, though, and experts warn that public transportation at-large is vulnerable unless leaders act.

  • By Chris Teale

We’re going to Miami. Join us to learn what’s new in state and local technology.

Our annual Tech Summit is June 26-27. Come hear how local leaders from across the country are using technology to address the biggest issues facing communities.

  • By Route Fifty Staff

Virginia Gives Its Transit Agencies Access to Planning Software

The software helps agencies find gaps in their transportation networks and understand where service can be added or refined. It can also analyze demographic data to ensure that service is as equitable as possible. 

  • By Chris Teale

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
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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