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Strategies > Public Transit > Transit Access

Transit Access

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Photo: pedbikeimages.org/ Adam Coppola Photography
For many people, public transit provides access to employment, education, and other destinations necessary for living a healthy life. Transit is an essential mobility service, particularly for those who cannot afford or do not wish to own a car. Transit is especially important for low-income households and people with disabilities.

Increasing transit access includes improving the safety and convenience of transit stops and stations, providing information about transit routes and times, and enhancing connectivity with other modes of travel (e.g., bicycle racks on the bus).

Proven Outcomes

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Increased Transit Use
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Increased Walking
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Increased Physical Activity
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Reduced VMT
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Reduced GHG
Improved transit access is a recommended strategy for increasing walking and physical activity (Community Guide, 2016) and a scientifically supported strategy for increasing transit access and use (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2017). Transit access, as measured by distance to transit stops or stations, has a small effect on reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) (Stevens, 2017, paywall) and therefore, associated greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

Likely Outcomes

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Reduced Air Pollution
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Reduced Congestion
Potential co-benefits of improved transit access include congestion reduction and reduced noise and air pollution (Community Guide, 2016).

Equity and Inclusion

  • Public transit is a central feature of civil rights and transportation equity. Improving transit access improves equity for those who are unable to drive. When investing in transit improvements, consider which demographic groups benefit--who is the expanded access for? 
  • The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act requires that public transit agencies make their transit services accessible for people with disabilities. However, many transit agencies have not fully complied with the requirements. The less accessible public transit (i.e., "fixed route") transit is, the more that people with disabilities must rely on paratransit service, which is expensive to provide and often inconvenient for users (AARP, 2011). If your community lacks accessible transit, work with disability advocacy organizations, including your local Center for Independent Living, to improve transit access.
  • Strategies that involve changes to the physical environment, particularly the introduction of light rail, may increase the attractiveness of an area. An increased demand for housing may result in increased property values or rents and could lead to involuntary displacement if appropriate mitigation strategies are not put into place. Practitioners can evaluate the risk of displacement through the methods described by Chapple et al. (2017) or Bates (2013).
  • There are concerns that transit-oriented development, which is generally built near light rail stations, can displace low-income residents in favor of higher-income residents. Transit-oriented development projects can require affordable housing to ensure that residents who rely on transit can afford to live nearby.

Complementary Strategies

  • Local Accessibility
  • Regional Accessibility
  • Land Use Mix
  • Pedestrian Infrastructure
  • Street Network Connectivity​
  • Transit Service

Implementation Guidance

Guides & Reports
Transit Equity and Environmental Health in Baltimore


Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, 2021
Inclusive Transit: Advancing Equity through Improved Access and Opportunity


TransitCenter, 2018
Riders' Guide to Public Transit for People with Disabilities





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Transit Access Project, n.d.
Transit for All: Achieving Equity in Transit-Oriented Development

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Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles, 2015

Research Reports & Briefs
TCRP Report 226: An Update on Public Transportation's Impacts on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Transportation Research Board, 2021
Construction of Pedestrian Infrastructure along Transit Corridors


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Illinois Center for Transportation, 2021
Fact Sheets & Infographics
Improving Access to Public Transportation




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Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, n.d.
The Legacy of Racism in Transit: How We Got Here and What to Do about It


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TransitCenter, 2021 (vimeo)
All-Ages Access: Making Transit Work for Everyone in America's Rapidly Aging Cities

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TransitCenter, 2016
Toward Universal Access: A Case Study in the Los Angeles and Puget Sound Regions




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Eno Center for Transportation, 2020
Better Benches and Bus Stop Shelters: Citybench and Bus Shelter Programs, New York, New York


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​AARP, 2015
TCRP Research Report 221: Redesigning Transit Networks for the New Mobility Future

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Transportation Research Board, 2021
The Connection between Investments in Bus Stops, Ridership, and ADA Accessibility

National Institute of Transportation and Communities, 2020
Families and Transit
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TransitCenter, 2018
Bicycle and Transit Integration: A Practical Transit Agency Guide to Bicycle Integration and Equitable Mobility
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American Public Transportation Association, 2018​
From Sorry to Superb: Everything You Need to Know about Great Bus Stops


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TransitCenter, 2018
​Future of Public Transit and Shared Mobility: Scenario Planning for COVID-19 Recovery


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University of California, Institute of Transportation Studies, 2021
Transit Oriented Development: Equitable Development Toolkit


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PolicyLink, 2009
TCRP Research Report 223: Guidebook and Research Plan to Help Communities Improve Transportation to Health Care Services​
​Transportation Research Board, 2020
TCRP Synthesis 117: Better On-Street Bus Stops

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Transportation Research Board, 2015
Transit Street Design Guide




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NACTO, n.d.
People Near Transit: Improving Accessibility and Rapid Transit Coverage in Large Cities
​Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, 2016 
Transit-Oriented Development and Health: A Health Impact Assessment to Inform the Healthy Neighborhoods Equity Fund​​
​Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Conservation Law Foundation & Department of Public Health, 2013
Addressing Accessibility and Equity along Transitways: Toward a Mixed Methods Toolkit - Part 1

University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, 2021
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  • Service Areas
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    • Goals >
      • Physical Activity
      • Bicycling
      • Walking
      • Equity and Inclusion
      • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
      • Vehicle Miles Traveled
    • Strategies >
      • Transportation Infrastructure >
        • Bicycle Infrastructure
        • Pedestrian Infrastructure
        • Traffic Calming
      • Transportation Demand Management >
        • Active Travel to School
        • Employer-Based Trip Reduction Programs
        • Parking Availability and Pricing
        • Road User Pricing
        • Voluntary Travel Behavior Change Programs
      • Land Use Strategies >
        • Local Accessibility
        • Regional Accessibility
        • Residential Density
        • Land Use Mix
        • Street Network Connectivity
      • Public Transit >
        • Transit Access
        • Transit Service
      • Engagement >
        • Community Engagement
    • Emerging issues
    • Approach
  • News
  • Contact