Published: Monday, March 9, 2009
Transit ridership hits 52-year high
WASHINGTON -- Despite job losses and falling gasoline prices, record numbers of Americans rode subways, buses and commuter rail last year, boosting public transportation ridership to its highest level in 52 years, according to a survey being released today by the American Public Transportation Association.
Advocates say the ridership figures show growing support for public transportation. They hope to use that support to push for federal funding beyond the $8.4 billion in stimulus money set for transit. More investment in transit not only helps the economy, advocates say, but also helps the environment and fosters energy independence.
The 10.7 billion transit trips Americans took last year amounted to a 4 percent increase over trips taken in 2007; at the same time, Americans drove measurably less, according to the Transportation Department.
The increase is significant because cheaper gas and job losses tend to drive transit ridership down. Almost 60 percent of transit riders go to work.
The survey found that ridership increased last year on all modes of transit all across the country. Ridership rose on 14 of the nation's subway systems (3.5 percent), 20 of 21 commuter rail systems (4.7 percent) and 20 of 26 light-rail systems (8.3 percent). Some of the big increases were in places such as South Florida, Dallas and Salt Lake City, not necessarily among the largest communities served by transit, officials said.
Bus service increased 3.9 percent, but ridership on systems serving populations of less than 100,000 rose 9.3 percent, the survey found.
Transit officials said that even with fewer people going to work and cheaper gas, riders are taking transit to save money. On Oct. 1, a gallon of regular gas was $3.61, compared with $4.11 a gallon on July 17. By year's end, the national average was $1.61.
As gasoline prices fell, other benefits became more apparent, said Morgan Lyons, a spokesman for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Instead of traffic-clogged drives that could take up to an hour, riders could be on the train for 35 to 40 minutes and do work or relax.
Ridership demand notwithstanding, enormous budget deficits and falling sales and property tax revenue have forced many transit agencies to raise fares and cut service. Last month, the Cincinnati Metro said it was reducing service on 27 bus routes to balance its 2009 budget. Maryland officials cut commuter rail and bus service.
Looking ahead, transit officials say ridership is likely to fall in the first quarter of this year because of the slumping economy. But they say stimulus-funded projects set to get underway this spring will show policymakers the benefits of transit investment.
"There are a lot of eyes watching those of us who are in receipt of stimulus funds," Millar said. If transit agencies spend the money quickly and create jobs, building "tracks to somewhere" instead of "a bridge to nowhere," federal policymakers "will be much more inclined to listen and invest additional sums," he said.
Advocates say the ridership figures show growing support for public transportation. They hope to use that support to push for federal funding beyond the $8.4 billion in stimulus money set for transit. More investment in transit not only helps the economy, advocates say, but also helps the environment and fosters energy independence.
The 10.7 billion transit trips Americans took last year amounted to a 4 percent increase over trips taken in 2007; at the same time, Americans drove measurably less, according to the Transportation Department.
The increase is significant because cheaper gas and job losses tend to drive transit ridership down. Almost 60 percent of transit riders go to work.
The survey found that ridership increased last year on all modes of transit all across the country. Ridership rose on 14 of the nation's subway systems (3.5 percent), 20 of 21 commuter rail systems (4.7 percent) and 20 of 26 light-rail systems (8.3 percent). Some of the big increases were in places such as South Florida, Dallas and Salt Lake City, not necessarily among the largest communities served by transit, officials said.
Bus service increased 3.9 percent, but ridership on systems serving populations of less than 100,000 rose 9.3 percent, the survey found.
Transit officials said that even with fewer people going to work and cheaper gas, riders are taking transit to save money. On Oct. 1, a gallon of regular gas was $3.61, compared with $4.11 a gallon on July 17. By year's end, the national average was $1.61.
As gasoline prices fell, other benefits became more apparent, said Morgan Lyons, a spokesman for Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Instead of traffic-clogged drives that could take up to an hour, riders could be on the train for 35 to 40 minutes and do work or relax.
Ridership demand notwithstanding, enormous budget deficits and falling sales and property tax revenue have forced many transit agencies to raise fares and cut service. Last month, the Cincinnati Metro said it was reducing service on 27 bus routes to balance its 2009 budget. Maryland officials cut commuter rail and bus service.
Looking ahead, transit officials say ridership is likely to fall in the first quarter of this year because of the slumping economy. But they say stimulus-funded projects set to get underway this spring will show policymakers the benefits of transit investment.
"There are a lot of eyes watching those of us who are in receipt of stimulus funds," Millar said. If transit agencies spend the money quickly and create jobs, building "tracks to somewhere" instead of "a bridge to nowhere," federal policymakers "will be much more inclined to listen and invest additional sums," he said.
Story tags »
• Transportation • Commuting • Community Transit • Sound Transit • Everett Transit • Sounder TrainComments
(