Minneapolis to Decriminalize Metro Transit Fare Evasion Two new measures would change the way that public transportation fares are collected by establishing a $35 administrative citation and hiring safety officials, not police officers, to collect fares, answer questions. Janet Moore, Star Tribune | March 16, 2021 | News
(TNS) Just 49 people were fined for failing to pay their fares on Metro Transit buses and trains in 2018 and 2019. But that doesn t mean Minnesotans are especially diligent about paying their way on public transportation.
The reality, according to the Metropolitan Council, is that local prosecutors are inclined to pursue far more serious crimes instead of a $180 fine for an unpaid $2 transit ticket.
Cities rev up transition to EVs with car sharing programs. //Image courtesy or Andrew Spear for NRDC.
It’s no secret that transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States. So it’s not surprising that, besides promoting the use of public transit, biking and walking, cities are also embracing electric vehicles (EVs) in their quest to cut carbon emissions. But some are thinking outside of the box: In addition to electrifying municipal fleets, many cities participating in the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge are also engaging with community and industry partners to support electrified options that don’t require owning your own EV, such as car sharing which has been demonstrated to reduce car ownership amongst users. This reflects both a desire from cities to more aggressively reduce carbon pollution and a desire from residents for more varied, affordable and sustainable transportation options. Additionally, several of these ci