Clayton County, one of metro Atlanta’s five core counties, will terminate all transit service in 14 days. The transit service, which provides over 2 million rides each year on buses “full to bursting” with riders, according to MARTA CEO Beverly Scott, will shut down service entirely, leaving the 50% or more of C-Tran riders with no regular access to a car stranded.

Monday’s online debate on conservatives and public transportation was billed as a back-and-forth on why the ideological right should embrace public transportation. While differences persisted between our conservative and libertarian panelists about the impact of transit investments, another schism developed over how big a role buses should play.

Last Tuesday’s election results were a win for public transit, although high-profile state and national races stole most of the headlines. According to the Center for Transportation Excellence, 72 percent of transportation ballot measures received voter approval on November 3. November’s ballot included seven measures in five states – Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Michigan and Ohio. [...]

A recent California Supreme Court decision could restore billions in funding for public transportation in the nation’s most populous state. The Court’s ruling late last week upheld a lower court decision declaring the state’s $3.6 billion raid of public transit funds illegal and ordered that the money be returned to local transit providers.

…Glennis was expected at work at 7:00. It was 6:25, and she had been waiting at the stop for 30 minutes when I showed up. Glennis told me that once she got off at Santa Monica Blvd, she would still have about one mile to walk to get to her job. Her chances of getting there on time were looking pretty slim at that moment, and I could see the worry mounting on her face.

Decades after school buses became a symbol for educational integration, high fuel costs and shrinking budgets are causing school districts to make cutbacks in bus service — and pushing children to attend school closer to home. (Wall Street Journal — Robert Tomsho)

The Indianapolis Star looks at the city’s plans to increase bus fares and reduce service, criticizing the fact that “the nation’s 12th-largest city has allowed the core of its mass transit system to dwindle to 99th in size.”

A prolonged gas shortage in the South is prompting even more commuters to ride public buses and trains, and transit agencies are feeling the impact through longer lines and bigger crowds. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution –  Patrick Fox)

Efficient, technologically-advanced Bus Rapid Transit helps make Paris’ public transportation system run smoothly. Streetsblog has the video. (Brad Aaron)

These are booming times for bargain bus operators, as travelers who previously took to the skies look to save a few dollars and avoid the hassle of airports. (Forbes — Brian Burnsed)