The National League of Cities announced Thursday it had released a new mapping program that will help local governments and transit planners identify opportunities for improving public transit access.
The Civic Mapping Initiative (CMI) is a resource that provides easily navigable maps to policymakers with the goal of showing the proximity of local transit stops to public services like Head Start centers and community colleges. The map will help transit planners see where access can be improved, officials said.
“Improving access to public transit can help build more equitable communities by opening new doors for residents and changing people’s lives,” NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony said. “NLC is thrilled to bring the Civic Mapping Initiative into our programming as we continue to support local leaders in identifying opportunities to create more connectivity and improve mobility in their cities, towns and villages.”
Originally created within the Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation (SHSF) before being acquired by the NLC, the CMI was co-founded by SHSF CEO Abigail Seldin and CMI Research Director Dr. Matt Crespi, now the program director of the CMI Initiative at NLC.
Currently, the Civic Mapping Initiative offers insight on transit opportunities near community colleges and HeadStart center, but the organization said the initiative will expand to bring a better understand of transit in America’s cities to those planning municipalities infrastructure.