Large venues like convention centers, stadiums and sports arenas play an important role in the social and economic life of cities. As public spaces, they bring people together to be inspired, celebrate victory (or commiserate loss) and share passions. At the same time, they are critical economic drivers, contributing to a city’s tax base and bolstering the sales of nearby businesses. However, over the last decade there's been a shift in thinking about how these centers can be better integrated into their communities as mixed-use destinations that focus on placemaking and people.

Improving equitable access, creating a more resilient transit network and delivering on environmental priorities requires faster and more reliable transit travel on the Bay Bridge. A recent SPUR Digital Discourse highlighted AB455, a bill to deliver better, faster fairer bus service across the Bay Bridge. The conversation also highlighted the current state of Bay Bridge transit and tackled the questions why and how to improve transbay bus service.