Published: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Transit systems nationwide find strong ridership on superfast lines
EVERETT — If other bus rapid transit systems in the nation hint at success, things bode well for Community Transit’s new Swift bus system.
Community Transit studied most of the other 21 systems in the nation in preparation for establishing Swift, and found first-year increases in ridership anywhere from 20 percent to 70 percent on the corridors where the buses were introduced, spokesman Martin Munguia said.
Bus rapid transit systems in Los Angeles; Kansas City, Mo.; and Eugene, Ore., all report ridership far beyond their initial expectations.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority established Metro Rapid in 2000, and now has 28 routes covering more than 450 miles. Those lines have done well, spokesman Dave Sotero said, but even better has been the relatively new Orange line, which began service on a 14-mile stretch in the San Fernando Valley in 2005.
“Our ridership estimates were completely smashed,” he said.
While the transit agency projected an average of 7,500 weekday boardings, the Orange line hit an average of more than 16,000 boardings per weekday the first month and has grown to around 21,000, Sotero said.
The Lane Transit District in Eugene, Ore., started a free line, EmX, on 4 miles between downtown Eugene and downtown Springfield in January 2007. While the line that previously served that corridor averaged 2,700 boardings a day, EmX had 4,500 the first month and in January 2009 reached more than 5,800.
“It certainly exceeded our expectations,” spokesman Andy Vobora said.
This fall, the transit district started charging fares, but all but about 3 percent of riders have stuck, Vobora said.
The Kansas City Transit Authority started a 6-mile line, MAX, in July 2005, and is now planning a 13-mile extension, spokeswoman Cindy Baker said.
“Within three years, we probably doubled the ridership in this corridor,” she said. “We thought it would take seven years to double.”
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.
Community Transit studied most of the other 21 systems in the nation in preparation for establishing Swift, and found first-year increases in ridership anywhere from 20 percent to 70 percent on the corridors where the buses were introduced, spokesman Martin Munguia said.
Bus rapid transit systems in Los Angeles; Kansas City, Mo.; and Eugene, Ore., all report ridership far beyond their initial expectations.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority established Metro Rapid in 2000, and now has 28 routes covering more than 450 miles. Those lines have done well, spokesman Dave Sotero said, but even better has been the relatively new Orange line, which began service on a 14-mile stretch in the San Fernando Valley in 2005.
“Our ridership estimates were completely smashed,” he said.
While the transit agency projected an average of 7,500 weekday boardings, the Orange line hit an average of more than 16,000 boardings per weekday the first month and has grown to around 21,000, Sotero said.
The Lane Transit District in Eugene, Ore., started a free line, EmX, on 4 miles between downtown Eugene and downtown Springfield in January 2007. While the line that previously served that corridor averaged 2,700 boardings a day, EmX had 4,500 the first month and in January 2009 reached more than 5,800.
“It certainly exceeded our expectations,” spokesman Andy Vobora said.
This fall, the transit district started charging fares, but all but about 3 percent of riders have stuck, Vobora said.
The Kansas City Transit Authority started a 6-mile line, MAX, in July 2005, and is now planning a 13-mile extension, spokeswoman Cindy Baker said.
“Within three years, we probably doubled the ridership in this corridor,” she said. “We thought it would take seven years to double.”
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.
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