What Does Truly Equitable Public Transit Look Like in Growing Cities?
The Challenge
A Sun Belt metropolis projected to double its population by 2040 needed to overhaul a transit system designed for 1980s commuter patterns. Existing bus routes bypassed rapidly diversifying suburban job centers, while light rail extensions remained paralyzed by political gridlock. Disabled riders faced average trip times 2.3X longer than non-disabled peers.
Our Approach
Buffalo Strategy conducted comprehensive ethnographic research across 22 neighborhoods, combining mobility pattern analysis with demographic forecasting models. This data informed the development of an adaptive transit simulation platform that accounted for population growth, land-use changes, and shifting economic patterns. In order to bridge identified gaps, we designed a modular transit system integrating autonomous shuttles with existing infrastructure, while embedding universal design principles throughout the network.
Key Takeaway
Equity required redefining “coverage” – traditional metrics focused on geographic reach ignored temporal accessibility for shift workers and caregiving commuters. Aligning service hours with non-traditional work schedules, we developed a strategy that would enable the client to serve 300,000 additional riders without increasing fleet size.
The Outcome
1
Increased weekend/evening ridership by 62% through schedule optimization.
2
Reduced average trip time disparity for disabled riders to 1.4X baseline.
3
Secured $650M in federal funding through Justice40-aligned grant proposals.
