Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)’s Post

🌟 Why is Public Transportation Key to a Region’s Success? Let Me Share Our Son's Journey. 🌟 Public transit isn’t just about getting from point A to point B—it’s about opening doors, creating independence, and driving economic success. Our son Ryan, who has Down syndrome, has found his path to independence thanks to St. Louis Metro Transit. He takes Call-A-Ride to work and MetroLink home, and this reliable access to transportation has given him the freedom to build his career path and thrive with the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Without safe and accessible public transportation, so many like Ryan wouldn’t have the same opportunities. Transportation systems are economic development equalizers that allow all individuals to contribute to and benefit from a region's growth. Big thanks to Citizens for Modern Transit, Bi-State Development and St. Louis Metro Transit for their efforts to keep these essential services running, and to Clayco and other partners for supporting these initiatives. Check out Ryan's feature on Instagram from August 23: https://lnkd.in/gYRDZBY4 🚇 Together we ride, together we thrive. Public transit is vital—use it, support it, and advocate for it! Let’s continue breaking down barriers and creating inclusive opportunities for all. ❤️ #AccessibilityMatters #Inclusion #DownSyndromeAwareness #EconomicDevelopment #MetroStLouis #UsePublicTransit #CitizensforModernTransit #Clayco #BeyondTheseWalls #STLCards #STLAquarium w/David Austin, MBA, Reagan Austin

York Pennsylvania announces launching its new comprehensive plan, York 2044, a forward-thinking blueprint designed to guide the city’s growth and development over the next two decades. This ambitious plan aims to create a sustainable and complete community for all residents. York 2044: A Vision for a Sustainable Community has identified the following goals: + Challenging York’s Reputation. + Improving Property Conditions. + Making Homelessness Brief, Rare, and Non-Recurring. + Increasing Access to Health Services. + Eliminating Food Insecurity. + Building Wealth Within Neighborhoods. + Building Socially Cohesive Neighborhoods. + Creating a Supportive Transportation System. + Reducing Our Carbon Footprint and Greenhouse Gases. York's Mayor Michael Helfrich stated, “York 2044 represents our community’s collective vision for the future of York City. This plan is a testament to our commitment to including the needs of all residents, businesses, and visitors, while creating a city that is not only prosperous but also sustainable. We are excited to embark on this journey together with our community.” The comprehensive plan will be available for public review and feedback starting September 13, 2024, with adoption occurring at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.

As we shape the future of our cities, the voices of those who will live with the longest-lasting consequences—children and youth—are often overlooked. It’s time to change that. Young Torontonians are eager to contribute their insights to critical issues like housing, transit, and public space. In our work, we hear bold ideas for a safer, greener, and more inclusive Toronto from these future city-builders. Their vision? A city that prioritizes sustainability, affordable housing, and connected communities where everyone feels they belong. By listening to children and youth, we can design a future Toronto that thrives. Their passion for change, combined with the experience of older generations, offers a powerful formula for innovation. Let’s bring more young voices into our civic discussions and recognize their stake in the decisions we make today. What kind of future are we building, and are we including those with the longest futures ahead? Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gECN9sKj #YouthEngagement #UrbanPlanning #Toronto #FutureOfCities #MaximumCity #Sustainability #AffordableHousing #PublicTransit

In the City of Henderson, a huge priority in #economicdevelopment is assisting our local companies ... and that is a job that never stops. We are always looking for new ways to make city processes smoother, add value to our business community, and listen closely to feedback. Here's some proof: 1. Our permitting department is constantly reviewing and improving processes. 2. Our economic development team works with partners to fund and drive real-world business assistance to Henderson companies (especially steered towards underserved founders). We've also launched "Workforce Huddles" to bring companies and workforce development partners to the same table. 3. The city regularly surveys residents and the business community and studies that feedback very closely for improvements and new programs. Now that is #PREMIER. That is #ACTION. This is #NOW. Let's #GO!

Say you’re building a new city from scratch—like the proposed city in Solano County—where do you start? First, I hope you’d buy a copy of The JOY Experiments, but then what? Like Steven Covey always used to say, you’ve got to begin with the end in mind. So, if it were me, I would first decide how I want my city to act like a community. How do I want to make citizens feel like they belong? Define and celebrate the city’s uniqueness? Foster trust and compassion? Starting with a societal vision keeps the focus where it belongs—on the people. Next, I would use a new city-building formula, which shifts from the old Live, Work, Play model to Play (35%) + Live (35%) + Work (30%) = JOYFUL CITY A redistribution of policymaking and city-building energy and investments in the following way gets us closer to cities that are truly sustainable in the 21st century. With that in mind, does Solano County fit the bill? While the city only exists on paper for now, a lot of what they’re saying sounds promising and fits with the JOY Experiments ethos. Their plans are online at californiaforever.com so check it out for yourself and report back in the comments. And if anyone knows how to reach Jan Sramek, let me know. I want to send him a copy of our book. #citybuilding #cityliving #urbandesign #urbanplanning #placemaking #socialconnection #joyfulcities #joyexperiments https://lnkd.in/grQz-HBv

Do you know about Transit Equity Day? 🗣 Transit Equity Day is a holiday honoring civil rights leader Rosa Parks, celebrated in the United States on her birthday, February 4th. A question I have re: public transit is… are cities really being more inclusive with their planning in this era of rapid development? Or are we continuing to perpetuate the same geography of inequity that was around during the time of Rosa Parks and others? 🏚🚷 A lack of reliable transportation keeps nearly 6% of U.S. adults from medical appointments, work or other activities important to daily living, with younger people, those in low-income households and many people of color among the groups who most experiencing the heaviest burdens associated inaccessible transportation. According to the Labor Network for Sustainability, in 2024 Transit Equity means everyone has a right to public mass transit that includes: - Safe, reliable, transit accessible to all - An affordable public transit system - Living wages, benefits, safe working conditions, and union rights for transit workers - Safe, healthy and livable neighborhoods - Dedicated and sustainable public funding for public transit Do you ever think about how policy impacting public transit has evolved since the Civil Rights movement? 🤔 What are some local efforts that are going on where you are to improve public transit? #publichealth #transit #transitequity

Looking into a senior living community for your loved one? CarDon is here to help! Check out this video from our Senior Resource Hub with insider tips from industry expert Johna Cripe about making the move. #ResourceHub #CarDonCares

We now depart from our regular programming (discussions around inclusion, labor markets, etc.) for me to (once again) geek out about a favorite topic of mine: public transit and urban development. TLDR: sustainable, increased funding in public transportation fosters better ridership, resulting in more resilient cities, major reductions in carbon footprints, and helping to bridge racial and economic disparities in our urban hubs. Transit should not exclusively cater to 9-5 ridership. Sidebar: I only really started consistently riding the T in Boston after seeing a billboard on I-93, which regularly clogs with some of the nation's worst traffic, encouraging traffic-stricken drivers like me to skip the congestion and ride the T instead. I'd now describe the billboard placement as "almost sarcastically effective." I followed the suggestion, didn't look back. Now that I'm in the Bay, I'd love to see more significant investment in our regional transit, especially BART, and collaboration among areas with significant transit gaps like San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gqEKcr4S

Community feedback is so important to improving the transit experience. But sometimes what is needed is obvious. To quote Mayor John Bauers "If there's one more senior who can choose to stay independent in my city because we provided a bus seat to them — because in the absence of that, they don't have mobility choices — I'm going to put a bus seat there," Bauters said. "As unsexy as that may seem to some folks, that matters to me." Bauters added, "You don't need to study whether or not people need to sit — especially people who are older, people have mobility issues, people with children, people who've walked a long the way, or who are carrying things." The elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities – all deserve a place to sit and wait with dignity. A lack of accessible seating at bus stops is a major barrier to public transit use for people with disabilities, according to the NCDJ. Benches are not just a convenience; they're a bridge to a more equitable transportation system. If you would like to help your bus riders who have no place to sit, we can help. Consider placing cost-free ADA-compliant benches at your bus stops now. This is a chance to be a hero, to help people struggling to move around their town. Reach out for details. #MetropolitanMayorsCaucus #AQOLFA #funding #usmayors  #citymanager #cityplanning #municipal #municipalities #publicspaces #publicspace #transitadvertising #busriders #publictransportation #publictransit #transitauthority  #transit #bus #commuting #transit #cityscapes #cityliving #townplanning #townplanner #transportationsolutions #city #townhall #towns #citycouncil #transportation #transportationplanning #transportationindustry #towncouncil #transportationsystem #benches #bench #busshelter  #publicprivatepartnerships #publicprivatepartnership #publicworks #publictransportation #mayor #mayors #publicworks #bus #citymanagement

Intergenerational living is a topic often discussed in the housing sector, but with few true examples in practice. The next generation of urban later living schemes often situate retirement communities in amongst mixed-used places, but this pilot between Birchgrove and Hybr in Mill Hill truly puts the concept to the test by mixing students, key workers and seniors under one roof. By creating a mixed community in the first year post-completion this allows Birchgrove to reach full occupancy for their later living BTR scheme earlier, whilst ensuring they have a vibrant community from the opening of the development. This will be a real test case for the sector and for the concept of intergenerational living. Such flexibility isn't often possible in retirement communities due to age and care restrictions imposed by planning. However, greater flexibility is offered as Birchgrove acquired the block with a traditional residential consent from Barratt London as part of their wider mixed-use scheme. Communal facilities in the block, such as the gym and café, will also be accessible to the wider community providing further benefits from this model. To hear more about this pilot, as well as other trends in the sector, look out for Montagu Evans' upcoming podcast where I sit down with Birchgrove's Honor Barratt and Pollard Thomas Edwards's Stephen Morris to discuss the future of later living. #retirementcommunity #laterliving #keyworkerhousing #intergenerationalliving ARCO (Associated Retirement Community Operators)