We’re moving our weekly Transit Trends series to Medium! Welcome to our fun roundup of the top transit and transportation news making headlines each week.
A Streetcar for the District
After many rounds of testing and months of educating the residents of Washington, D.C., the DC Streetcar will finally make its debut on Saturday, February 27th! The two mile line on H Street Northeast is the first portion of the 37 mile streetcar line planned for the nation’s capitol. Streetcars are now all the rage in cities as NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is also pushing for a streetcar connecting Brooklyn and Queens. (WAMU)
Turner Plans to Turn Houston’s Traffic Around
Newly elected Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is saying what everyone is thinking: Quit prioritizing single occupancy vehicles. Mayor Turner took to Texas Standard to explain his frustrations while also providing a few ideas. Last month, he told the Texas Transportation Commission to begin prioritizing the core of cities while also paying attention to roads that aren’t highways. His interview is short but worth the listen. (Texas Standard)
Expanding transportation in the 6
Toronto has plans on growing its rapid transit network by 2031. The city transit agency recently started receiving ideas directly from residents who rely on the system daily. Numerous lines, including relief lines, are thought to be in the works. We think Toronto’s golden child would even enjoy the improvements of his hometown’s transit system even though he travels differently now…(Architect This City) (Next City)
A Penny for your Thoughts? — And Improved Service
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed wants to make sure MARTA is prioritized just like the city’s highways. A new penny sales taxes is up for a vote and it could help with many transportation projects such as repaving roads as well as transit options. Mayor Reed wants the public transit system to receive half a penny from a new sales tax instead of 75% going to roads and 25% going to transit. (My AJC)
Ditch Cars for Dive Bars
With TNCs, more walkable cities and public transit, many millennials are waiting on, or avoiding, car ownership. In a surprise twist of events, so are older Americans. The number of Americans refusing to renew their licenses and opting for a “simpler lifestyle” increases every year. Even though gas is cheaper than it has been in years, it doesn’t look like it’s swaying many people to switch up their commute. (NPR)
Have a story you want added to our weekly #TransitTrends? Leave us a comment or send it to us on Twitter by tweeting @RideScout.
