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Strategies > Public Transit > Transit Service

Transit Service

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Photo: Unsplash/ Mateusz Glogowski
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.

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Improving transit service includes increasing the frequency of transit, improving reliability, and offering expanded hours of service, particularly service at night.  Some of the tools to create a high-quality transit experience include having convenient routes, safe and comfortable access to stops and stations, and reduced fares . 

Proven Outcomes

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Increased Walking
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Increased Physical Activity
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Increased Transit Use
Improving transit service is a recommended strategy to increase walking and physical activity (Community Guide, 2016). Offering high-quality transit service is a scientifically support strategy for increasing transit use (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2017). While an increase in transit ridership does not reduce driving trips one-for-one, an increase in transit trips resulting from transit improvements can substitute between 10% and 50% of car trips (Handy et al., 2013).

Likely Outcomes

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Reduced Vehicle Use
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Reduced VMT
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Reduced GHG
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Reduced Air Pollution
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Reduced Congestion
Potential co-benefits of improved transit service include reduced single occupancy vehicle use, congestion, noise pollution, and air pollution (Community Guide, 2016), reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and reduced greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2017). While research shows that there is a positive relationship between improved transit service and ridership, the effect on VMT has not been quantified (Handy et al., 2013). 

Equity and Inclusion

  • Public transit is a central feature of civil rights and transportation equity. Improving transit service improves equity for those who are unable to drive. When investing in transit improvements, consider which demographic groups benefit--who is the expanded service for?  
  • 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 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

  • Land Use Mix
  • Pedestrian Infrastructure
  • Street Network Connectivity
  • Transit Access

Implementation Guidance

Guides & Reports
The Future of Public Transport: Investing in a Frontline Service for Frontline Workers


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C40 Cities, n.d.
Who's on Board 2019: How to Win Back America's Transit Riders



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The TransitCenter, 2019
A Bid for Better Transit



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​TransitCenter & Eno Center for Transportation, 2017
Research Reports & Briefs
Public Transit and Shared Mobility COVID-19 Recovery: Policy Options and Research Needs


University of California, Institute of Transportation Studies, 2020
Tools
National Transit Map
[Website]





Bureau of Transportation Statistics, n.d.
Fact Sheets & Infographics
Families and Transit




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TransitCenter, 2018
Public Transport after COVID-19: Re-Building Safe and Connected Cities


C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, 2020
Fight for Your Ride: An Advocate's Guide for Improving and Expanding Transit



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​Transportation for America, 2018
​All-Ages Access: Making Transit Work for Everyone in America's Rapidly Aging Cities


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TransitCenter, 2016
Research Brief: TCRP Report 163: Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities
Transportation Research Board, n.d.
The National Transit Database
[Website]




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Federal Transit Administration, 2020
Frequency and Transit 





TransitCenter, 2018
Transit Street Design Guide




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NACTO, 2018
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 UpRouted: Exploring Microtransit in the United States



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Eno Center for Transportation, 2018
Curb Appeal: Curbside Management Strategies for Improving Transit Reliability


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NACTO, 2017
Redesigning Transit Networks for the New Mobility Future


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Transportation Research Board, Transit Cooperative Research Program, 2021
Transit Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator (v2.0)



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Federal Transit Administration, 2021
A Budding Model: Los Angeles's Flower Street Bus Lane


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Eno Center for Transportation, 2021
How to Make Public Transport an Attractive Option in Your City


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C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, 2019
TCRP Report 95: Traveler Response to Transportation System Changes Handbook
​(Chapters 9-12)

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Transportation Research Board, various dates
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  • Service Areas
  • Clearinghouse
    • 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