New report: Public transit demand is up but funding is down

A new report released by Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance, the MASSPIRG Education Fund, and Transportation for America demonstrates that while demand for public transportation is on the rise, funding for transit across America is vulnerable and insufficient. In 2008, public transportation ridership rose 4 percent, with the largest number of trips taken since 1956, while the total number of miles driven fell by 3.6 percent. Yet across the country, a massive wave of enacted or proposed fare hikes coupled with anticipated service cuts demonstrate how precarious our transit financing system really is. Check out the report: "Stranded at the Station."

America's streetcar renaissance

Street-running train networks are making a comeback, as this map from The Infrastructurist shows.

MASSPIRG report highlights benefits of public transportation expansions

Vehicle travel on Massachusetts highways increased 57 percent between 1980 and 2007. And the number of miles driven per person has increased by 39 percent over that time. This and much more is in a new report by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) analyzes the benefits of proposed and planned public transportation projects throughout Massachusetts, including the Green Line extensions. Read more and download the report.

Report brings out more politician support for Green Line extension

At a press conference held at Lechmere, MassPIRG announced the findings of its new public transportation report which states that Massachusetts' public transportation system reduces oil consumption and global warming emissions. Read more about the report.

BostonNOW: "Green Line extension gets boost"

Boston Metro: "T growth helps city go Green"

Somerville Journal: "Pols back report saying Green Line extension through Somerville will be better for environment, wallets"
“We’re done with highways,” Congressman Mike Capuano said. “Finally, we have a governor and an administration who get it.”

Read more...

Study on importance of land use and public transit

One study, coordinated by Smart Growth America and published by the Urban Land Institute, found that “Typically, Americans living in compact urban neighborhoods where cars are not the only transportation option drive a third fewer miles than those in automobile-oriented suburbs.” A separate study from the American Public Transit Association showed related findings. Read more about both.

AIA study on well-designed transportation projects

The American Institute of Architects has released research on key design strategies that can be crucial in determining whether a transportation project will benefit its community.

• Employing an integrated design process through which planners, designers, transportation officials, and builders develop a unified plan
  
• Including all community stakeholders from the outset
  
• Using three- and four-dimensional images and graphics to increase citizen involvement, understanding, and buy-in
  
• Creating human-scaled structures and spaces that make busy transportation hubs more manageable
  
• Using easily legible signs and directions that make complicated multimodal systems easier and safer to navigate
  
• Designing projects to be both durable and adaptable to new transportation modes and community needs

Somerville bus survey results

This summer and fall, STEP conducted a survey of Somerville residents to gather information on current MBTA bus service. The results are in:
- Many Somerville residents depend on bus service for a variety of needs.
- Though satisfied overall with bus routes and stop locations, people are generally dissatisfied with frequency of service.
- Bus routes with the highest satisfaction include the 88, 87, and 80.
- Bus routes with the lowest satisfaction include the 95, 90, and 92.
- The most important improvements are better adherence to schedule, more trips, and bus schedules posted at stops.
- Reliability is the top reason for those who don’t use buses.

Keep reading for more details on the survey findings. You can also download the PowerPoint presentation.

Read more...

Report on diversity and transit-oriented neighborhoods

"Preserving and Promoting Diverse Transit-Oriented Neighborhoods" is collaboration of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Reconnecting America, and Strategic Economics.
Download the report (PDF)

World Carfree Day is September 22

Join the annual celebration of alternatives to the automobile. For more information, visit World Carfree Network. Also check out the AltWheels Transportation Festival on September 22-23 on Boston City Hall Plaza.

Study comparing rail and bus transit

A new study debunks the myth that Bus Rapid Transit is successful in most places and puts bus in its proper place: below rail options in densely populated corridors.
Evaluating New Start Transit Program Performance: Comparing Rail And Bus (PDF)

Take the Somerville Bus Survey!

STEP is sponsoring a survey of current bus service in Somerville. This is your chance to be heard!

Take the Bus Survey

Study on housing affordability and transit

The Affordability Index: A New Tool for Measuring the True Affordability of a Housing Choice
This report from The Brookings Institution describes a new information tool developed by the Urban Markets Initiative to quantify, for the first time, the impact of transportation costs on the affordability of housing choices.

Making Places newsletter: Streets are people places

Check out this online newsletter from the Project for Public Spaces. Topics include transportation and community, making streets people-friendly, and what's working in places from New Jersey to Paris.
June 2005 issue

Transportation equity article

This paper defines different types of transportation equity, discusses various equity issues, and describes ways of incorporating equity into transportation planning.
Evaluating Transportation Equity (PDF)

Massachusetts commuting study: It's getting worse

A new study by MassINC shows that our commutes are getting worse at a faster rate than in all but five other states. The average commute is 27 minutes each way. Part of the solution is enhancing public transit.

Read more...

Car ownership costs

Fact sheet on costs of owning and driving a car.
The Cost of Car Ownership (PDF)

Study on barriers to transit-oriented development

Case study of how a real-world development was able to overcome the substantial development barriers that face these developments.
Overcoming Financial and Institutional Barriers to TOD: Lindbergh Station Case Study (PDF)

Multimodel planning analysis

An analysis of existing methodologies to assess quality of service and related concerns for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes.
A Review of Approaches for Assessing Multimodal Quality of Service (PDF)

Bus transit and land use study

This article examines the effect of land use, socioeconomics, and bus transit service on transit demand in the Twin Cities. The findings suggest that vertical mixed-use is important close to transit access and retail plays an important role up to a quarter mile from transit service.
Bus Transit and Land Use: Illuminating the Interaction (PDF)

Transportation costs study

Research on how the lack of transportation choices strains the family budget and hinders home ownership.
Transportation Costs and the American Dream (PDF)

Study on walking and cycling to improve public health

Article on the public health consequences of unsafe and inconvenient walking and bicycling conditions, including recommendations.
Promoting Safe Walking and Cycling to Improve Public Health: Lessons from The Netherlands and Germany (PDF)

Community Impact Assessment Conference

Report from this annual conference on the effects of transportation on communities. Topics include environmental justice, healthy communities, and inclusive decision-making.
Community Impact Assessment Conference articles (PDF)

Methods for environmental justice analysis

Inventory of technical approaches that can be used to address environmental justice issues for systems-level and corridor/subarea planning.
Technical Methods to Support Analysis of Environmental Justice Issues (PDF)

Transportation investment research

Paper on the positive impacts on transportation investment - in particular, the benefits to mobility and access, safety, aesthetics, and community cohesion.
Community and Social Benefits of Transportation Investment (PDF)

Massachusetts environmental injustice study

Northeastern University research on unequal exposure to pollution and hazardous waste.
Unequal Exposure to Ecological Hazards: Environmental Injustices in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (PDF)

Rail service and public transit use

Paper on the difference that rail transit makes in attracting the public to use public transportation.
Impact on Transit Patronage of Cessation or Inauguration of Rail Service