While transit agencies in cities from San Francisco to Philadelphia continue to struggle to match pre-Covid passenger counts, Vancouver’s regional TransLink system has become a success story: Ridership has recovered to around 90% of 2019 levels, at a rate faster than almost any other major transit system in North America.

TransLink’s CEO Kevin Quinn credits the success to several key strategies that make Canadians stand out from their US counterparts, including prioritizing frequent service and implementing land-use policies that promote dense development around transit stations. Population growth in nearby municipalities, fueled by immigration, also plays a role. In a conversation with contributor David Zipper, Quinn — a transplant from Maryland —reflects on the lessons Vancouver offers to other North American cities. Today on CityLab: The Secret to Vancouver’s Public Transit Ridership Recovery

— Arvelisse Bonilla Ramos

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The Political Transformation of California’s Billionaire Mall King
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