#public-transport-profitability

#public-transport-profitability

"Caltrain and BART would very likely be looking at shutting down passenger service," Deputy Director of Policy Development Melissa Jones said. "In that case, the agencies would be focused on maintenance, trying to secure our assets, keep everything safe while we regroup for the future."

"As we prepare for events like the World Cup, MA250, Tall Ships, and for millions of visitors to experience all that Massachusetts has to offer, we want to thank our regular riders that rely on us 365 days a year for your patience and continuing to choose transit during this unprecedented summer."

"This project is symbolic of what we've done over the last 12 years, reshaping the streets and the city," Christophe Najovski, the city's deputy mayor in charge of green spaces, stated during the opening ceremony.

Muni fare revenue remains way, way down, with $97 million in 2024 compared to $283 million in 2015, despite ridership being above 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

True high-speed rail in the U.S. is still years away despite recent advancements and public support. Rail experts emphasize that actual high-speed rail requires dedicated infrastructure and faster trains, similar to systems in Europe and Asia.

Backers of the K Line extension view it as a crucial component of Metro's strategy to provide a connected transit system, which is essential for residents who depend on public transportation.

We already pay the bulk of the TriMet operating budget through (mostly employment) taxes (49%), federal operating grants (13%), state and local revenue (8%). That's a total of 70% that everybody has already paid—even folks who aren't passengers. Passenger revenue only covers 6% of the TriMet budget.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System faces a roughly $500 million funding gap over the next four years, but it's not due to diminishing services. Regional riders are enthusiastic about the transit system - it has one of the fastest growing riderships in the country and ranks third for the number of passenger trips and passenger miles in California. However, like other major transit agencies such as BART, the MTS kept things moving after the pandemic through one-time emergency funds from federal and state subsidies.

UCLA's research indicates that if the area surrounding a transit stop is included in the definition, it could add more than 1.3 million acres of land statewide where housing bonuses would apply, nearly tripling the amount of land currently eligible.

A vote six years in the making that would decimate the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system might soon be called off, potentially averting a major funding crisis for the agency - though advocates say there's more work to be done to make sure every DFW resident has the mass mobility options they deserve. Since the beginning of the decade, a handful of wealthy, sprawling suburban cities in the greater Dallas metro have been fighting

While dozens of other countries have delivered fast, modern train networks, we are stuck with a skeletal system built largely on slow, 19th-century alignments. Even developing nations are passing us by. There is growing recognition at the federal level that things need to change, but substantial and comprehensive reform would require an act of Congress.

In November, TriMet reduced evening service on five bus lines, including the frequent express line on Southeast Division. The agency will implement another wave of service reductions-this time impacting four bus lines-starting March 1. The August reductions are poised to be the biggest round yet. TriMet has proposed changes that could affect or eliminate dozens of bus routes across the Portland metro area, and eliminate a portion of the MAX Green Line.

It's tempting to frame autonomous driving as a single leap. In public transport, adoption tends to be incremental - because the system is built for reliability, and new capabilities have to fit into daily operations without disrupting service. That is why a practical strategy is evolution, not revolution: introduce autonomy in a defined domain, learn safely in real operations, and expand capability step-by-step.

Let's start with the biggest issue on the horizon: the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Yes, the ultimate decision is about a year away. But sides are lining up for and against, and right now, the Surface Transportation Board, which is colloquially known as STB -- the railroads' economic regulator -- is considering the details of how the rules governing that decision will be applied.