User:Daisykettle/sandbox

Public Transit in Anchorage, Alaska

Public transit in Alaskan cities has been largely unsuccessful due to the low densities of cities and towns, increasing urban sprawl, and large geographical area, among other factors. The municipality of Anchorage presents an example of the difficulty in adopting public transit as a community-wide means of transportation. The only current city-wide transit system is the People Mover bus system, which operates exclusively in the downtown Anchorage area. However, the large sprawl of the city, which totals an area of 1,706 square miles, and the residential areas extending beyond that, pose a challenge to providing efficient and worthwhile transportation. According to the 2020 Public Transportation Report for the city of Anchorage, 39% of residents and 55% of jobs were within a ¼ mile radius of a bus route. With an average of 2 cars per household and inconvenient bus routes, there is an uncompelling case for using public transportation. Fares for Anchorage’s People Movers average around $26 for a week pass, which may also discourage ridership. While the overall ridership rates dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has also been a relative downward trend since 2009. The 2040 Anchorage Land Use Plan states that auto travel is the dominant mode of transportation in the city, with biking and transit being the least used modes. The Land Use Plan does, in part, aim to improve the transit system, with 41% of the recommended short term projects being non-motorized transportation focused. 42% of the projects are roadway or car focused and approximately 9% are transit focused. The plan states that these investments “reflect Anchorage’s desire to become a more multimodal community while keeping the existing system functioning” (MPT 2040 Executive Summary). One piece of this plan already put into place is the addition of bike racks for fat-tire and regular bikes on the front of the People Mover buses. The new investment in transit and pedestrian infrastructure could provide more sustainable and equitable transportation options in a city with climate and density challenges. The expected increase of residents, and higher demand for urban housing and public spaces will test the city’s proposed infrastructure.