Transit Safety is Table Stakes for Enhanced Transit
- December 28, 2023
- Posted by: Joe Milazzo II
- Category: Blog
RTA and transit safety
The regional business community in the metropolitan Triangle is fully committed to the accelerated development of an enhanced regional transit system. By “enhanced” we mean one that provides expanded, faster, more convenient, and intuitive travel choices along with a highly effective user experience.
Of course, safety in and around our enhanced regional transit network is table stakes for enhanced transit. Current and prospective transit customers and users — and the broader community — must have confidence in the system for it to achieve full success, and for our region to maximize the benefits of our ongoing investments.
To support this objective, RTA has launched a study of best practices in transit safety across the nation. The research effort is a collaborative initiative of four RTA Regional Leadership Team organizations: RTI International, HDR, Google, and SAS, in concert with a number of our local transit partners as well as those from beyond our region. The impact of zero fare on transit safety is an important part of this study.
RTA research team members have begun collecting data and conducting local and out-of-market interviews. We will have more to say about the ongoing transit safety study in early 2024.
Looking ahead, even beyond the RTA transit safety study: We recognize that ensuring both actual and perceived safety in, on, and around our enhanced regional transit system, including the launch of BRT in Raleigh in 2025, will require the dedication of sufficient community resources — both financial and otherwise — as well as focus and intentionality.
Let’s get moving,
Joe
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director
