Yonah Freemark’s Post

Pennsylvania just took a big step toward preventing SEPTA (and other transit agencies) from going over the fiscal cliff. An important thing to understand is that this flex puts the federal money into SEPTA's capital program and allows PA to divert equal dollars to SEPTA's operating budget. This is important because it avoids further depleting SEPTA's capital budget, which would be catastrophic in the long term. We do need to understand this is a one-shot, not a long-term solution, but it prevents devastating cuts and fare hikes right now.

Chicago-area public transit has consistently been underfunded compared to transit in other parts of the country since before the pandemic, Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois (RTA) Kirk Dillard said in a statement. Talk of reforms must be paired with discussion about finances. “We welcome discussion on reforms that strengthen coordination, efficiency and accountability across the regional transit system,” he said. “Riders expect and deserve faster, more reliable service, and a safer and more accessible system. But reforms must come with the necessary funding to upgrade service and maximize transit’s impact on the region’s economy, climate, and access to opportunity for all residents.” https://lnkd.in/g7AWYRsx

Transit is essential! ICYMI: State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, and state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, have introduced the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act, the first part of the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act, which would create the Metropolitan Mobility Authority to oversee all public transit operations and replace the Regional Transportation Authority. The act would provide $1.5 million in additional funding, invest in commuters needs, change fee structures, and more to provide equitable public transit access to residents. Read more about the act here: https://lnkd.in/gmu9VP7n

“Bus stops are the front door to American public transit systems: they are where half of transit riders wait for service, particularly low-income riders. While agencies carefully plan and approve high budgets for sleek designs in rail stations or transit centers, they often forgo basic improvements to bus stops.” Transitcenter.org Municipalities and transit authorities are not trying to make life more difficult for transit riders. They may have lost sight of the little things that they can change today, for nothing. The no-cost kind of nothing.  Before we talk about the fix, let’s give a shout-out to all the transit workers trying so hard to do their best and make a difference in the lives of riders. We’re not here trying to throw shade, we are offering a solution. To quote Sonny and Cher for those of you who have lived that long, we’re learning “It’s the little things that mean a lot”. We can look at all the research and at the end of the day, Mayor John Bauters nailed it. “It’s one of those things that doesn’t need to be studied,” Bauters added. “You don’t need to study whether or not people need to sit — especially people who are older, people have mobility issues, people with children, people who’ve walked along the way, or who are carrying things.” Simple enough, right? So, what are the little things to fix this? How about a place to sit or place bags, nothing fancy, a bench works. Is it too much to ask for armrests to use as an anchor to sit and get up? Seating at bus stops can seriously improve the rider’s experience. Oh, and add a place to throw that empty coffee cup and the wrapper from the breakfast burrito. It’s that simple. Of course, we can keep adding trees, lights, electronic bus messaging, restrooms, and the list goes on. Yet in reality, the growing list is growing the timeline to get anything at all done. “People actually consider waiting at the bus stop for buses as among the most unhappy moments of their life,” says Yingling Fan, a University of Minnesota associate professor who specializes in planning and policy. This is one we can solve, now with a place to sit. If your town, city, or transit authority has a bus stop consisting of a pole in the ground and a worn path to a bare spot in the grass, I can help. COA’s bus bench and recycling partnerships are a set-and-forget-it option. We’ve been handling ALL the details for 40 years. Yeah, we’ve got that down. Our benches are designed to be aesthetically pleasing while preventing misuse. They provide an ADA-compliant resting place and fit where bus shelters may not. COA provides 100% of the funding associated with purchasing, installing, and maintaining high-quality public space benches, recycling stations, and bike racks. We also generate a sustainable revenue stream for our partners. To learn more about our program I invite you to call, or email me. Making people’s lives easier is good for everyone. Reach out today. Show some appreciation to a transit worker too!

"Historically, accountability measures have been focused on efficiency rather than effectiveness. In today’s world, effectiveness requires a clear vision that more than public transit buys into." Great article from TRI DELTA TRANSIT General Manager Rashidi Barnes on how we should be thinking about 'accountability' for public transit - requiring a more regional, cross-sectoral approach that involves not only transit agencies, but cities, counties, and regional planning authorities. https://lnkd.in/ghMS5SEU

Public transportation is not necessarily a partisan issue, but is probably more complicated than a party vs. party argument. Much of the debate may be framed in a rural vs. urban perspective. And not all people in rural areas have access to private transportation that make travelling from place to place an easy choice. All stakeholders need to be considered and consulted in the development of our transportation systems. Like broadband, much public transportation takes a long time to get to many rural areas. My native Eastern Shore of Maryland has lost some bus service and my hometown station was even moved out of town. Passenger rail left with the emergence of the automobile as well as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Funding is another big issue with poorer rural counties having less money to invest on major transportation infrastructure upgrades. #publictransit #transportation #governance #localgovernment #stategovernment #federalgovernment #infrastructure https://lnkd.in/eSxc9dTA

A Gonzales statewide poll of #Maryland voters published in February found that a remarkable 64 percent majority think their government should prioritize improving roads and bridges rather mass transit, according to an article from The Maryland Public Policy Institute running in citybiz. This comes at a time when costs for the Purple Line have now balloon to $572 million per mile. Given this, the state also needs to think about building the Red Line with bus rapid transit (BRT) versus light rail, if it still plans to move this project forward. #masstransit #publictransit #publictransportation #infrastructure

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is facing a significant funding shortfall with its newly proposed $65 billion plan to upgrade New York City's subway and bus system. What strategies can it implement to secure sustainable funding while ensuring that essential transit projects are not sacrificed due to financial constraints? The MTA anticipated that congestion pricing could generate $15 billion, but that program was recently suspended. Without adequate funding, the authority may need to make “sweeping cuts” to its current capital plan at a time when it needs to upgrade its aging infrastructure, enhancing accessibility for riders with disabilities, and prepare for the effects of climate change. At some point, the MTA may need to find compelling arguments to support its value. What does a state-of-the-art sustainable transportation system mean for a city such as New York? In a previous post we touched on the unique value that New York provides in terms of finance, education, culture, and medical services, among other assets. Accessing that ecosystem - and moving around easily within it - is indeed valuable. #MTA #NYC #NewYork #CongestionPricing #Transportation #Subway #Pricing https://lnkd.in/gvyuUbS6

The nation’s largest mass transit systems are edging closer to solving their post-pandemic budget crises, but one thing is standing in their way: the suburbs. The tensions percolated even before the pandemic and are rooted in a basic fact: No public mass transit system in the country generates enough revenue to support itself. They all need a mix of subsidies to keep fares affordable, especially for the low-income riders that depend on the systems the most.

Transit advocates support SB 1031 for a Bay Area tax measure vote, but TransForm opposes it due to highway expansion concerns. The bill aims to improve transit and road safety, yet debates persist over revenue details and prioritizing highway projects. #transit #SB1031 #BayArea #highwayexpansion #transportation https://lnkd.in/eCctH5QS