Akhtar, M. (2022, August 25). Too many Americans live in places built for cars — not for human connection. Vox. https://www.vox.com/features/23191527/urban-planning-friendship-houston-cars-loneliness
This article examines the impact of urban design on social connectivity, with a focus on the detrimental effects of car-centric suburban development in American cities like Houston. Highlighting historical shifts, the author notes that American urban areas like Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia were not always car-dependent; they were initially designed for walkability with narrower roads and higher density, facilitating access to community spaces. However, the advent of the automobile led to sprawling suburbs prioritizing cars over community interaction, contributing to increased loneliness, particularly noted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing studies and experts in public health and urban planning, the author advocates for a rethinking of urban planning to prioritize walkability and public transit, aiming to foster denser, community-oriented environments that support easier social connections for all age groups and abilities, thus promoting a more socially connected society.

Federal Transit Administration. (2022). Safety management inspection final report Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority / Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2022-08/FTA-Safety-Management-Inspection-Report-for-MBTA-and-DPU_0.pdf
In this 90-page report by the FTA, the key safety findings for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) reveal several critical issues. The MBTA has experienced a higher rate of reportable safety events and derailments compared to the industry average, particularly on its heavy and light rail modes. This includes significant incidents such as derailments, train collisions, and a passenger fatality due to a railcar door entrapment in April 2022. These problems are exacerbated by insufficient staffing, training, and supervision as the MBTA focuses more on capital projects than on maintaining safe operations and adequate maintenance. The report also highlights that the MBTA has not effectively implemented Safety Management Systems (SMS) or communicated safety issues well within the organization. This lack of effective communication and safety management has led to systemic issues being viewed as isolated incidents rather than indicators of broader problems. Additionally, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has failed to provide adequate oversight of MBTA’s safety programs, with several findings of non-compliance from a 2019 audit still unresolved. The report calls for urgent corrective actions to address these safety deficiencies, including enhanced staffing, improved safety management practices, and more effective oversight by the DPU.

Forbes, J. (2024, February 13). The 10 most bikeable cities in the U.S., ranked. Redfin. https://www.redfin.com/blog/most-bikeable-cities-in-the-us/

INRIX. (2022). INRIX 2022 global traffic scorecard. https://inrix.com/scorecard/#city-ranking-list

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2023). Comparative Climatic Data (CCD) Average Wind Speed (MPH). Noaa.gov. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/ccd-data/wndspd20.dat

Patkin, A. (2023, January 12). Report: Boston traffic is the fourth worst in the world. The WORLD. Boston.com. https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2023/01/12/boston-traffic-fourth-worst-in-world-commute-time/

U.S. Climate Data. (2019). Climate Honolulu - Hawaii and weather averages Honolulu. https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/honolulu/hawaii/united-states/ushi0026

Walk Score. (2020). Most walkable cities in the United States, Canada, and Australia on walk score. https://www.walkscore.com/cities-and-neighborhoods/

Wendover Productions. (2023, December 14). The most dangerous subway in America. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDXsVhFG7TE

Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, February 28). Windy City (nickname). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windy_City_(nickname)
I’m aware Wikipedia isn’t typically used in academic formats. Good news is, this is just a YouTube video. I’m using Wikipedia for aggregate data and finding other sources.

Wikipedia contributors. (2024b, April 25). Climate of Massachusetts. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Massachusetts#:~:text=In%20the%20capital%20and%20largest