In growing recognition that the benefits of transit access often don’t accrue to low-income riders, two agencies are testing strategies to encourage affordable development near transit.

From the “Office of Extraordinary Innovation” at LA Metro comes the announcement the agency would be throwing its hat in the “microtransit” ring.

Few transit agencies invest in street infrastructure around bus stops and stations. Today, however, Los Angeles Metro is taking a different and noteworthy approach.

Since acknowledging that plunging bus ridership is a problem in Los Angeles, L.A. Metro is moving on several fronts to try to stabilize and recover bus patronage.

Walkability is one of the keys to high transit ridership, and yet much of the nation's transit is located in low density, unwalkable places. As a result, the U.S. transit industry faces the need to create “first and last mile” connections to and from transit.

Seleta Reynolds was appointed General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation by Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2014, and is responsible for implementing Great Streets for Los Angeles.

With nearly $200 billion in public transportation investments on ballots across the country, results suggest that tying transit scraps to highway meals is politically ineffective.

Cities and transit agencies can situate new services like Uber and car2go within broader urban transportation strategies to strengthen transit and reduce car dependence...