Transit agencies around the country are adopting a new generation of fare payment systems. TransitCenter’s new report, "Do Not Track: A Guide to Data Privacy For New Transit Fare Media," maps out how to navigate the pitfalls of these new technologies when it comes to privacy. 

On January 28th, the LA Metro board voted to fully restore bus service by the start of the new fiscal year in July. This win was the result of a concerted effort by transit advocates, grassroots organizers, and local residents working in coalition to center the voices of bus riders and gain political power at the LA Metro Board.

After a multi-year battle, the advocacy group Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) fended off the Mon-Oakland Connector, an autonomous micro-transit project championed by Mayor Bill Peduto. 

The pandemic brought about sudden and severe cutbacks in service last spring. Nearly all transit agencies have restored some service since then, but a TransitCenter analysis shows wide variation.

A new coalition of environmental, labor, and business leaders is working with elected officials in Baltimore to pass the Transit Safety and Investment Act, a bill currently moving through the Maryland state legislature. The bill would require the Maryland Department of Transportation, which oversees the Maryland MTA, to spend millions more annually on MTA maintenance and operations over the next five years

Earlier this week, the American Public Transportation Association requested $39.3 billion in relief funding to help transit agencies maintain service and withstand the financial impacts caused by COVID-19. A plan moving through in Congress would reserve about $30 billion for transit. And the Biden administration had earlier proposed $20 billion for transit in the next relief package. What should we make of these different proposals?

Our latest video illustrates how increasing the amount of transit service by 40% can dramatically expand access to good transit and bring many more jobs within reach of riders.

Compared to Congress, the power of US DOT to directly allocate transportation resources is small. But in the hands of the right team, Pete Buttigieg’s department can still exert immense influence on the transportation landscape.

Debra Johnson, the first woman to hold the top leadership post at RTD, and the first CEO since 1995 to be hired from the outside rather than promoted from within, will bring a fresh eye and a multi-city resume that’s relevant to RTD’s challenges.

We present this preliminary analysis as a summary and guide to the geographic distribution of transit funds in the December COVID relief package.

On December 17th, TransitCenter held a ceremony recognizing this year’s Frequency Award winners. Here’s a list of the honorees, and a bit about why their work was so important: