Kansas City, Missouri, will make bus rides free next year, becoming the first major metropolis in the U.S. to provide no-fare public transit.
The move is an attempt to spur more economic activity by subsidizing mobility for residents. City officials hope that the expense—roughly $9 million annually—will recoup at least that much through a more vibrant economy.
Several smaller U.S. cities including Vail, Colorado and Chapel Hill, North Carolina offer free bus service. Typically, the result has been strong ridership growth.
Skeptics in Kansas City question whether bus service is convenient enough to spur the kind of growth produced by the city’s 2.2-mile downtown streetcar line. That service has spurred more than a $2 billion property value increase since opening in 2015. Ridership has grown steadily, and city residents recently voted to double the line’s length.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 14, 2018
Obsolete safety standards may have been used in cleanup of former naval shipyard
San Francisco redevelopment site work may have been racked by fraud.
Codes and Standards | Nov 13, 2018
New York City’s new construction safety requirements are delayed
Some contractors say they weren’t ready for ‘massive initiative’.
Codes and Standards | Nov 9, 2018
Cities have multiple strategies to reduce parking requirements
Each community has to find its own mix of solutions.
Codes and Standards | Nov 8, 2018
Denver replaces green roof mandate with cool roof option
Less costly light-colored roofs can cut project costs by about 1.5%.
Codes and Standards | Nov 7, 2018
New report addresses sound transmission of wood-framed assemblies
AWC document provides empirical sound transmission model.
Codes and Standards | Nov 6, 2018
AIA releases 13 new and updated contract documents
Includes new Contractor-Subcontractor Master Agreement.
Codes and Standards | Nov 2, 2018
New Milwaukee Bucks home called world’s first bird-friendly sports arena
Design will make bird collisions less likely.
Codes and Standards | Nov 1, 2018
Several barriers holding back widespread construction of zero energy buildings
Code improvements and voluntary programs could add momentum.
Codes and Standards | Oct 31, 2018
Boston’s new flood protection plan centers on new parks
Initiative would add 67 acres of public open space.
Codes and Standards | Oct 30, 2018
San Francisco plans tougher seismic building codes
Recommendations include addressing geotechnical issues like those faced by Millennium Tower.
