Transit Service

White and green Rhode Island Public Transit Agency bus

Rhode Island Ends Free Transit Program

The state’s public transit agency cited cost overruns and a looming ‘fiscal cliff.’

August 14, 2023 - The Center Square

Close-up of gloved hand holding blue Orca transit card with blue and yellow bus in background

King County Metro to Cut Bus Service

With hundreds of buses out of service and a mechanic shortage delaying repairs and maintenance, Seattle area bus riders will see significantly reduced service this summer.

July 4, 2023 - The Seattle Times

Washington, D.C.

D.C. Metro Announces Service Improvements

The Red, Blue, and Silver lines will see faster headways as the agency reintroduces its 7000-series rail cars to the fleet.

June 14, 2023 - The Washington Post

A map of the city of Madison’s public transit routes.

Madison Launches Redesigned Transit System

Transit riders in Madison, Wisconsin are navigating an entirely new system this week.

June 13, 2023 - WKOW

Empty Muni underground train platform

Activists Mourn Potential Death of Bay Area Transit With Mock Funeral

In an action meant to draw attention to the financial crisis facing California’s public transit agencies, activists held a mock funeral for BART and Muni, citing the cause of death as ‘neglect.’

June 5, 2023 - SFGate

Sound Transit train

Sound Transit Reveals Early 2024 Service Plans

Seattle’s transit agency is looking to maximize its limited resources as it continues to grapple with staffing shortages and supply chain issues across the region.

May 31, 2023 - The Urbanist

Regional Transit

Opinion: California Transit Systems Need State Support

California provides far less in state funding to public transit agencies than other states. Transit advocates say this must change to improve transit service, bring back ridership, and reduce air pollution from the transportation sector.

May 14, 2023 - The Sacramento Bee

A proposed cross section of a center-running, protected bus lane.

D.C. Fare-Free Transit Program Could Come at the Expense of the K Street Transitway

When presented with a choice between investing in improved service or funding a fare-free program, the D.C. Council is choosing fare-free transit, and potentially overriding the wishes of the mayor.

May 2, 2023 - The Washington Post

Person on subway platform holds phone and looks toward track

Transit Agencies Could Lose Access to Twitter Updates

Twitter announced it would start charging for access to its API, which many transit and government agencies rely on to provide real-time service updates.

April 18, 2023 - Bloomberg CityLab

Portland Transit

Opinion: Improving Transit More Important Than Free Fares

More investments in high-quality transit service coupled with income-based discounts could offer a better way to boost ridership and help low-income riders.

April 18, 2023 - Route Fifty

Close-up view of empty bus from behind seat. Seats have blue upholstery

Opinion: Free Fares Won’t Solve the Transit Crisis

“The biggest US transit agencies must be allowed to simply focus on delivering high-quality service. There is no Plan B.”

March 29, 2023 - Vox

A New York MTA drives down the straight under elevated train tracks in the Bronx in New York City

Changes to Local Service in the Bronx Benefit Bus Speeds, Ridership

Another example of how improving bus service design can benefit transit riders and transit systems emerges in New York City. More such local system redesigns are on the way soon in the Big Apple.

March 3, 2023 - StreetsBlog NYC

two riders wearing masks during the covid-19 pandemic exit a blue city bus in the Bronx in New York City.

All-Door Boarding Stuck in Neutral in New York City

MTA leadership has decided all-door boarding will lead to fare evasion and isn’t willing to adopt a program that was already well underway.

February 22, 2023 - StreetsBlog NYC

Washington, D.C. Bus Lane

D.C. Transit Recovery ‘Slow and Bumpy’

Transit service in the District has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with Black and low-income riders feeling the brunt of the impact.

February 20, 2023 - TransitCenter

Chicago Transit

Chicago Transit Still Stumbling After Redesign

The city’s transit agency made changes to its schedules to make wait times more predictable and streamline services on the most popular routes, but riders are still experiencing headways longer than before the pandemic.

February 15, 2023 - Chicago Tribune

Two buses pull up to a station on a snowy day.

Increased Service, Employer Tax Breaks Entice Transit Ridership in Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Maryland transit planners are hoping workers returning to the office in 2023 will rediscover the benefits of a public transit commute.

January 30, 2023 - Bethesda Magazine

A conceptual rendering of a revamped train station in a historic corner of Salt Lake City.

A Citizen-Led Plan Would Revamp Salt Lake’s Transit and Freeway Mix

The Rio Grande Plan would restore rail service to the Rio Grande Depot and reconnect a community divided by a freeway in Salt Lake City.

January 18, 2023 - Salt Lake City Weekly

Man walking away past glass elevator in brightly lit New York City subway station corridor

New York Post-Pandemic First: Big Transit Service Changes

More service on the weekends, less on Monday and Friday, reflects the patterns of post-pandemic transit ridership.

December 22, 2022 - Gothamist

two riders wearing masks during the covid-19 pandemic exit a blue city bus in the Bronx in New York City.

Can New York Legislators Make Buses Free While Improving Service?

A pair of state legislators hope to make buses free while improving service levels on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) bus system in New York City. The effort will require a new level of political will for transit.

December 19, 2022 - AMNY

A light rail trail leaves a station with a field of grass under the blue sky in the background.

Denver’s C and F Light Rail Routes Closed Permanently

The Regional Transportation District in Denver suspended two light rail lines at the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. The routes have now been permanently discontinued.

December 18, 2022 - The Denver Post

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