Southern Environmental Law Center’s Post

In today's rapidly changing world, our public transit systems need to evolve to meet the demands of the future. Reinventing transit isn't just about new buses or trains; it's about creating smart, resilient communities where everyone can thrive. #neworleansregionaltransitauthority, #Inclusivity&Accessibility, #sustainabletransportation, #resillientcommunity

Article | How one city pulled public transit from the brink — and what the rest of the country can learn from it.  There’s no substitute for better service.  Read more at this link (https://lnkd.in/epeqT5PQ).   🚇 #DCMetro #PublicTransit #Urbanism #CityLife #Commuting #Transportation #DC #WMATA #BetterService #SustainableTransportation #CityLiving 🚇

NYC’s public transit is the city’s heartbeat: over 600 miles of subway tracks and 300+ bus routes keep millions moving daily. 🚇🚌 With only 50% of households owning a car, public transit is a lifeline for many communities. But public transit is not just about transportation: it’s about equity and sustainability. It is the engine behind NYC’s vibrancy, but it only works if it serves all community members and can withstand the strain brought on by climate change. Want to learn more about the resilience of the NYC Public Transit system? Give Project Coordinator Veronica Maisch's blog post a read! 🌆 Have ideas for how to make public transit more resilient in New York? Don’t hesitate to comment on the blog post or share your thoughts in the comments section below! #PublicTransit #NYC https://lnkd.in/gaivQ3U8

I am in full support of congestion pricing. However, I believe the messages in favor of it needs a stronger focus on how it directly benefits commuters. People want to know, "How will congestion pricing benefit me?" It is crucial to highlight that congestion pricing can lead to shorter travel times, less traffic, and improved public transportation. These tangible benefits resonate more with the public and foster broader support for this congestion pricing. Advocates for congestion pricing must ensure that communication emphasizes the immediate, personal advantages to everyday commuters while also addressing the broader environmental and economic impacts.

Where Are The Best Public Transportation Systems In The World? Urban mobility is becoming a major challenge for cities around the globe as streamlining traffic and dealing with population growth isn’t as easy as it sounds. Urbanization has led to many issues such as traffic jams, air pollution, and infrastructure in need of upgrades and repairs, making navigating cities a real struggle. https://lnkd.in/gbwPpjZY.

Hot off the press! 🗞️ "To create a safer and more accessible San Antonio, we need to update our city’s complete streets policy, which helps communities develop and implement processes that ensure streets are safe for people of all ages and abilities, balance the needs of different modes, and support local land uses, economies, cultures and natural environments. .... The city of San Antonio adopted its current complete streets policy in 2011. The San Antonio Complete Streets Coalition advocates for new standards such as coordination, clear exceptions, performance measures, criteria for project selection, design updates, equity focus, and prioritizing vulnerable pedestrians and cyclists." 🌳 🧑🏻🦽 🚶🏽♀️ 🚲 🚌 🚙 🌳 Check out our latest feature in the San Antonio Express-News covering the future of transportation in San Antonio! Written by Joey Pawlik (ActivateSA Executive Director), Beto Altamirano (CEO and co-founder of Irys, ActivateSA board member), and Javier Paredes (VIA Metropolitan Transit board member, founder of StudioMassivo), this op-ed covers topics ranging from Transit Oriented Development, Complete Streets, and data-drive transportation solutions. Most importantly, "Such advancements not only preserve our environment but also bolster our economy by reducing congestion, improving public health, and fostering vibrant, walkable communities that attract businesses and residents, ensuring our thoroughfares lead to a thriving, sustainable future." 🌳 🧑🏻🦽 🚶🏽♀️ 🚲 🚌 🚙 🌳 Learn more about our local Complete Streets efforts and how to get involved here: https://lnkd.in/guz2qmfn #CompleteStreets #SanAntonio #TransportationFuture #TransitOrientedDevelopment #DataDrivenTransportation #InclusiveCommunities #SaferStreets #SustainableCities #Walkability #Bikeability https://lnkd.in/gUrygtYh

A great article highlighting an important issue in NH. Another affirmation of the need for the upcoming statewide needs assessment being planned for public and community transportation, which will allow for informed decision making. The engagement of our business community to get behind solutions will be very important. Some more recent statistics for NH (source: nhtransit.org) - 1) In FY2023, over 2.1 million trips were taken on public transit and community transportation. 2) Public transportation's annual economic impact is estimated at greater than $110,000,000 and NH's service providers directly employ more than 300 individuals statewide. 3) Public transit providers now operate 200+ vehicles in 42 New Hampshire communities which contain over 51% of the resident population of the state. 4) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding supports 24 public transit and community transportation providers across the state.  5) Over 99.99% of all public transit trips are provided without a reportable safety event. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, the average American household spent 16.8 cents of every dollar on transportation related expenses, making it the second largest household expense. Using public transit can significantly reduce a household's transportation costs. This is particularly important as high housing prices and low vacancy rates in the rental and ownership markets in NH are increasing the distance between economic opportunity and the communities where people can afford to live. Ultimately, public transportation offers freedom and access to opportunity, both of which we should be striving for in NH. https://lnkd.in/eni66U9p

Much of #transportation #policy revolves around a two key questions: How do we divide up our limited public right-of-way? and where do we prioritize our resources? Most #streets aren’t wide enough to support all the ways everyone might want to #travel. We can’t all have wide sidewalks, shade trees with ample soil volume, protected #bikelanes, on-street #parking, travel lanes and turn lanes for #cars, dedicated #buslanes to keep our #transit moving, benches for socializing, #bike parking, etc. This is where the question of priorities comes into play. Arlington County Government is tackling this challenge head-on as it rewrites its 2007 Master Transportation Plan over the next year. The new plan will help #Arlington meet its commitments to #safety, #equity, #accessibility, and #climate resiliency, addressing the transportation needs of both current and future #residents. Everyone who lives, #works, or often visits Arlington is encouraged to participate and share their thoughts in Arlington’s Transportation Future, through the Transportation Preference Questionnaire. Input from the questionnaire will shape the future of Arlington’s transportation plan’s #vision, #goals, and #priorities, ensuring the transportation network is safe, #equitable, and #accessible for all. I just participated in the questionnaire. The survey takes only a few minutes to complete, and anyone who works in Arlington or visits for #social or #recreational purposes has a claim to Arlington’s Transportation Future and can take part in this process. The feedback form is open until November 15. You can access the survey here: https://lnkd.in/eJjBphH2 For more information on Arlington’s Transportation Future, please visit https://lnkd.in/e-Vqn26S.

The additional statistics underscore the tremendous impact that public and community transit systems have on our state’s economy and daily life. As someone who lives in a one-car household, my family often depends on COAST and UNH Wildcat Transit. These services are crucial for our daily commutes and activities, offering reliable and affordable transportation options. It's clear public transit is a vital service and a significant economic driver. The fact that more than 99.99% of all public transit trips are provided without an accident--speaks volumes about dedication and efficiency of our service providers. As a Realtor invested in the well-being of our communities, I see firsthand the increasing distance between affordable housing and economic opportunities affects residents. Public transportation is a crucial bridge Rad Nichols, thanks for advocating for better public transit solutions.