"Transit is Essential" - Recommendations from the California Transit Association

The California Transit Association, which represents over 85 local transit agencies in California, released a report from its COVID-19 Transit Crisis Relief Task Force with a series of recommendations in its report:  "Transit is Essential:  Recommendations for the Future of Transit".

Transit is Essential: Recommendations for the Future of Transit

Here is a list of their recommendations:

Operations Recommendations:   

1. Direct riders to wear face coverings.

2. Support installation of protective barriers for operators, where feasible.

3. Update ventilation systems or improve air flow in transit vehicles.

4. Adopt and publicize enhanced cleaning methods.

5. Prioritize service restoration in high ridership corridors.

6. Restore more frequent service.

7. Engage major employers and other stakeholders to develop policies to expand staggered work hours and smooth peak demand.

Technology Recommendations:

8. Introduce digital ticketing and contactless payment system

9. Expand new mobility options where more cost-effective than restoring traditional transit service.

Land Use Recommendations:

10. Work with local and regional partners to implement dedicated bus lanes.

11. Work with local and regional partners to institute traffic signal prioritization.

Funding and Policy Recommendations:

12. Provide emergency funding to transit agencies.

13. Institute new local government funding options to support transit and infrastructure near transit.

14. Expedite transit project delivery.

15. Increase funding for zero-emission buses and charging/refueling infrastructure.

16. Authorize operation of transit buses on highway shoulders.

17. Continue to move projects through capital investment grant pipeline, establish capacity for new projects.

Please click here to read the full report which includes justifications for each of the recommendations and examples from around the state.  This is a lot of good practical information.

At the same time a coalition of transit, cycling, and safe street advocates have released their own recommendations which Streetsblog California has uploaded and I encourage you to read here.

My favorite recommendation is this one: 

Establish a statewide, user-centered transit fare payment system: Promote state efforts to provide statewide transit eligibility verification, streamlined payment, and ensure access to reliable and accurate real time transit information. A statewide system offers great potential to save local transit agencies millions of dollars and more easily allow vulnerable populations to receive discounted or free fares.

That's a really great idea.  They also remind us to think of the first mile / last mile issue with all transportation planning:

Better align state transportation funding to ensure that people can easily take transit, walk, and bicycle: When people are riding the bus or taking the train, typically their journey does not end at the station. State transportation dollars should fund excellent pedestrian, bicycle, and other pollution-free transportation options that seamlessly connect public transit to communities and destinations, and support door-to door trips that don’t require a car.

My experience of riding transit is that buses and trains are filling up again, so we absolutely need to find a way to preserve service through this crisis and move on to Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan and its NextGen Bus Plan.

What do you think?