Transit

View all documents related to this topic by clicking on the document library tab at the top of this page

Transit includes buses, trams, light rail, ferries and many other types of shared public transportation. Across the United States, in large cities and smaller towns, new transit systems are being built to aid mobility, reduce congestion and spark economic activity. In 2012 alone, more than 30 metropolitan areas were building new transit lines, and many more projects are slated to begin in the next few years. These system expansions, changing travel patterns and higher gas prices are leading to more transit use. Since 1995, transit ridership has increased from just below 8 billion trips to 10.4 billion in 2011. State legislatures are taking a larger role in helping plan, fund and develop transit systems, as well as shaping complementary land-uses to encourage access to transit.

Key NCSL resources include:

• On the Move: State Strategies for 21st Century Transportation Solutions (2012 report) examines a wide array of innovative surface transportation reform laws, policies and programs that policymakers are considering or pursuing to take the nation’s transportation system well into the 21st century.
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the States (2012 report) summarizes state laws, funding and programs that help build transit-supportive communities, including how states have encouraged affordable housing, employment, economic development and last-mile transit solutions in conjunction with TOD.
• Transit-Oriented Development (2012 LegisBrief) summarizes recent state legislative efforts to build communities that complement and support transit use.
• Recent State Livability Initiatives in Minnesota: An Analysis (2011 report) compares recent efforts in Minnesota to encourage transit use and walkable communities with other states.
• Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices (2011 report) examines promising state land use, transportation and housing policies that may enable aging in place for older Americans, including analysis of transit-oriented development and human service transportation coordination.
• The Transportation Funding Legislation Database (regularly updated) details transportation funding and finance legislation and executive orders introduced since 2007, in 17 different searchable categories.
• The State Transportation Coordination Database (regularly updated) tracks bills, executive orders and statutes related to the coordination, study and funding of special transportation programs.
• The Transportation Coordination Quarterly Newsletter (2010 to 2012) highlights current policy actions and news concerning human service transportation coordination. To subscribe, contact Jaime Rall.
• The NCSL Transport Report Newsletter (monthly) covers state and federal transportation news, trends and analysis.

You can search all transportation documents on the site here.