Charlotte, pictured here, may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think public transit but it is leading the way in mass transit for the region.
When it comes to public transit in the U.S., there are certain predictable all-stars: the Metro in Washington, D.C., is convenient, efficient and clean. The "L" in Chicago and BART in the San Francisco Bay area are legendary. And everyone knows it's easier to navigate New York City without a car than with one.
But what about the rest of the country? As cities big and small rethink how their residents get around, new systems are taking shape -- and as gas prices and paychecks fluctuate, riders are responding in droves. While the current economic crunch is forcing many cities to hike fares or cut back on service, innovations continue, and the tracks are laid for a bright future. Here are a few surprising places where public transit is gaining speed:
Phoenix -- pop. 1.5 million
Phoenix's light rail opened earlier this year.
The desert-gobbling Arizona capital opened its first light-rail line in January with much fanfare and a few days of free rides. The 20-mile line is a modest start, but it's been beating early expectations and proving that even a poster child for sprawl can change its ways. Future plans would further connect the city, America's fifth largest. One less-than-sunny idea: The county sheriff's "Con Rail" plan to transport inmates on city rails.
Richmond, Va. -- pop. 202,002
The capital of the South is served by a century-old nonprofit that runs bike rack-equipped buses, vans and a carpooling and ride-matching services. Honored last year by the American Public Transportation Association for its deep commitment to the community, the Greater Richmond Transit Company has taken an active role in educating residents about the joys of carless living, with initiatives including a Lunch Time Express shuttle that makes downtown stops and even a transit TV show. A plan known as Mission 2015 envisions rapid transit and a downtown transfer center -- big plans for a system dubbed by CEO John Lewis as "the little engine that could."
