Thinking Bigger About How We Get Around
I've been geeking out over transportation lately, and I wanted to share why.
My husband Taylor and I have been lucky enough to travel internationally a few times, mostly to find amazing places to hike with our friends. Every trip we end up using multiple forms of public transportation, and every time we feel so envious that we don’t have these basic services at home. There are so many benefits of public transit; it's better for our environment (less carbon emissions WOOT WOOT), there’s less traffic, it’s more communal than driving alone, we need less parking lots, not to mention the convenience of not having to drive the vehicle yourself, which frees up brain space and provides time to work, read, or just zone out.
We haven’t just experienced this overseas, but in cities across America that have invested heavily in public transit. I know Fayetteville isn’t comparable to some of these big cities, but it doesn’t mean we can’t start to prioritize this ourselves, especially as we continue to grow.
Public transit systems are all about connecting the places people live to the rest of their city. The places we work, go to school, spend time with our friends, and spend our money. That is why it's so important to keep the cost/accessibility of transportation and the cost/accessibility of housing connected. If the cost of housing is so high that you have to live outside of the city, your cost of transportation goes way up. This includes everything from purchasing a car, to car insurance, gas, and the maintenance and upkeep of a vehicle. At the end of the day, it may not save you any money by choosing more affordable housing outside of the city.
At the same time, Fayetteville (and the broader Northwest Arkansas region) touts our bikeability as a huge benefit to our community. While that’s not wrong, and I am 100% on board with increasing our bikeability and walkability, we have to recognize that walking and biking aren’t realistic for everyone. Some people have disabilities, some commute longer distances, and some are carrying groceries or traveling with young children. And let's be honest, Arkansas summers are hot, winters can be unpredictable, and our weather is becoming more extreme as our climate changes.
Another layer to the conversation is that Fayetteville doesn’t own our own buses. We have partnerships with Razorback Transit and Ozark Regional Transit to provide all of our public transportation.
All this to say, I’m thrilled that Fayetteville has been prioritizing public transit lately. The increase in routes on 71b from every hour to every 30 minutes is huge, and I applaud everyone who had their hand in making that happen. The covered bus stops are a huge improvement. Every time we see a new one built, me and my kiddos cheer for the progress that our city is making to help folks feel more comfortable, safe, and dignified while waiting on their bus.
Some other amazing things our community has done recently in regards to transportation that I’m choosing to celebrate:
So what do I hope to do in regards to all these aforementioned thoughts, you ask?
Well, here are some of my dreams:
What if we built housing in a way that aligns with how we’re investing in public transit, so we can move easier around our city?
What if we invest in electric buses as a community (I’m speaking to ORT and Razorback Transit here, I know!) so we can decrease our carbon footprint and help support the city's climate action plan?
What if we plant trees along all biking/walking trails and near the covered bus stops so we can use them more throughout the year as the temperatures have been warmer each summer?
What if we work towards the city’s climate action goals around transportation, specifically to “build a complete and connected active transportation network within a 10-minute walk of every resident by 2030”?
As Fayetteville continues to grow, I also hope we'll continue thinking about the spaces around our transportation system. Imagine bus stops with shade trees, native landscaping, benches, and places where people actually enjoy waiting. Transportation infrastructure should serve people well while making our city more beautiful.
One transportation dream I haven't even touched yet is passenger rail.
I'll save that one for another blog post.
For now, I'll leave you with this: transportation is about more than roads and buses. It's about creating a Fayetteville where people have choices, where neighborhoods are connected, where families can afford to live and work, and where our city grows in a way that is healthier for people and for our environment.
That's the future I'm excited to help build.
I’d love to know, what are your public transit dreams?
I would like to see public transportation to XNA. Other cities, even smaller ones, have that and we desperately need it too! Thanks for putting public transportation on your list!