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Should Calgary have free-fare transit?

Hadeel Abdel-Nabi

September 24, 2019 |

The Sprawl |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Calgary, Alberta

Though Calgary already goes further than some cities in the public transportation sphere by offering a free-fare downtown zone, other cities that offer free transportation -- often through added taxes -- have seen drastic decreases in carbon emissions and cars on the city streets. One of these cities, Tallinn, Estonia, saw a 10% reduction in cars in the city center after introducing a free public transit system.

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The Kids Are Alright, and They're Fixing Their Neighborhoods After Natural Disasters

Monica Humphries

September 05, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Rockaway, New York

In starkly unequal Rockaway, Queens, New York, a group of 60 young people organize grassroots campaigns to equalize outcomes across race and class lines in the Rockaway Youth Task Force. Just a year after its founding Hurricane Sandy hit, and the RYTF really came into its own when it turned a vacant, half-acre lot into a thriving youth-run farm. The group also successfully lobbied the city to extend a bus line that gave over 10,000 more residents transportation access.

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Here's a Pothole Stunt for the Ages in New Orleans

Laura Bliss

August 30, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Often citizens have to go to great lengths to get their problems noticed by city governments. One New Orleans resident concerned with a pothole in his neighborhood did just that when he converted a large pothole in "Homer's Hideout" and listed it on AirBnB. The media frenzy made the city take notice and fix the problem.

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Solar Panels as Solution for SEPTA's Power Outage Problems

Matt Delucia

August 26, 2019 |

WCAU-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Storing solar energy improves the resilience of public transportation systems to disruptions in the energy grid. With the potential of extreme heat or weather conditions to cause issues in the reliability of electrical power, Philadelphia’s SEPTA public transportation system has begun to invest in solar power. By storing solar energy in batteries at various hubs, the public transportation system can avoid delays caused by local outages.

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South Mountain HS cross-country team pushing for electric school buses

Kristine Harrington

August 16, 2019 |

KPHO-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Phoenix, Arizona

Because of a collaborative effort between a high school cross country team and Chispa, an environmental advocacy group, Arizona’s Phoenix Union High School District has bought its first electric school bus. While nearly three times more expensive than a regular school bus, the school district considered the long-term sustainability, not just in terms of fuel and maintenance costs, but in regards to larger, environmental efforts as well.

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How One City Saved $5 Million by Routing School Buses with an Algorithm

Emma Coleman

August 12, 2019 |

Route Fifty |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

A well-designed algorithm can help increase the efficiency of complex, and troublesome, transportation systems. In 2017, Boston Public Schools hosted a competition to redesign its complicated bussing system. The selected proposal, an algorithm created by PhD students, increased efficiency by 20% overall, helping BPD cut tons of carbon emissions and ease budget constraints. The savings will allow BPD to reinvest in its schools.

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Chicago remade its 127-year-old rapid transit system. Are there lessons for Metro?

Lori Aratani

August 02, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Officials who want to improve Washington D.C.'s unreliable metro system look to the Chicago Transportation Authority to find examples of success in rebuilding a subway system. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel prioritized upgrading tracks and stations and has seen a large increase in daily riders and overall satisfaction with the system since the renewal took place. Now, Washington officials invite advice and collaboration in their quest to revamp the region's metro system.

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Back to the future with transit-oriented development

Tom Condon

July 29, 2019 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Britain, Connecticut

Connecticut cities like New Britain are taking a comprehensive approach to urban planning, incorporating public transportation and economic equity structures into redevelopment plans. By investing in "transit-oriented development," or TOD, along housing development coordinators, cities drive economic development while reducing the state's carbon footprint.

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Making quieter roads

Ben McAllister

May 28, 2019 |

The Naked Scientists |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Scotland, Edinburgh

The bigger the city, the busier the roads, which typically means more noise pollution as well. Because noise can negatively impact sleep and heart health, researchers are turning to promoting noise control engineering and sound barriers in hopes of reducing these adverse effects.

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Has Seattle Found the Solution to Driving Alone to Work?

Erick Trickey

May 23, 2019 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

As Seattle's population has grown rapidly, so has the interest in and need for an efficient mass transit system. Through voter investments and smart planning, the city has managed to see a slight decline in average daily traffic while the population has grown by more than 100,000 people - and light-rail ridership has seen a dramatic increase, all markers of success.

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