National links: How an obscure rule could improve safety for bus riders

How a little-known rule could improve safety for bus riders. As severe drought continues in the West, a small town in Arizona struggles to adapt. How Chicago is adapting its electric bus infrastructure for cold weather.

An obscure transit rule could improve safety: In areas where bus stops are far apart, some transit agencies around the country have rules on the books that allow riders to request stops in between. Many bus operators and riders aren’t aware of these rules, and agencies are worried too many requests would slow down service. Agencies with the rule also limit stops on certain streets and corners but the idea would be to let people request stops late at night on less-traveled routes to increase riders’ safety on their trip between the bus stop and home. (H. Jiahong Pan | Next City)

Water cut off for 2,000 homes in Arizona: Rio Verde Hills, Arizona is dependent on trucks to bring water to homes without wells from nearby Scottsdale. But truck access to the supply from the Colorado River was cut off after Scottsdale began implementing more rules around shortages from the severe drought facing the region. A two-year solution from the city is on the table, but longer-term access needs to be addressed. (Wyatt Myskow | Fast Company)

Chicago is adapting electric bus infrastructure for cold weather: The Chicago Transit Authority has been experimenting with electric buses for almost nine years as they work towards total electrification of their buses by 2040. The CTA has been focused on figuring out how to make sure they work in colder winter weather. Heating the interior of the bus to 70 F takes up most of the battery charge, so recharges are necessary to keep the buses running reliably. The agency has found operating electric buses after capital costs is cheaper overall: About $2 per mile vs $3 per mile for a diesel bus. (Tom Krisher | Associated Press)

“We Buy Houses,” everyone else loses: Commercials or billboards saying “We Buy Houses” for cash are ubiquitous in cities all over the country. But a new report from Drexel Metro Finance in Philadelphia found that homes sold to investors were valued at 50% less than those sold to individuals outside the Multiple Listing Service. These findings call into question whether the “We Buy Houses” world is taking homeowners for a ride. (Bruce Katz, Ben Preis, Kevin Gillen | Philadelphia Citizen)

French cities banning billboards: Cities all over France are moving to ban large billboards and flashy advertising in an attempt to reduce visual blight and create a calm urban environment. The City of Nantes in western France has banned billboards and took down 110 over the course of one night. While advertisers are upset with the loss of space to market their goods and services, local residents are happy with the resulting lack of annoying pitches. (John Laurenson | Marketplace)

Quote of the Week

“If this project is built through the center of our city, this racist past will carry its racist impacts into our future.”

Ann Burruss whose complaint about a highway expansion in Lafayette, Louisiana led to a civil rights investigation by the Federal Highway Administration.

This week on the podcast, we’re going to the Rail~Volution (Now MPact) Conference in Miami. Daniel Gibson, Regional Vice President of Miami Dade Allegany Franciscan Ministries moderates a panel featuring LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, Philadelphia’s SEPTA CEO Leslie Richards, and Diana Stanley, CEO of homeless services provider The Lord’s Place to talk about homelessness and public transportation.