Public Transit ridership highest in 52 yrs - ridership rose as gas prices declined & jobs were lost

[marmar]

10.7 Billion Trips Taken On U.S. Public Transportation In 2008 -- Highest Level in 52 Years; Ridership Increased as Gas Prices Decline and Jobs Were Lost


Transit NewsMarch 9, 2009

contacts:

Virginia Miller
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Despite falling gas prices and an economic recession, increasing numbers of Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation in 2008, the highest level of ridership in 52 years and a modern ridership record, according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This represents a 4.0 percent increase over the number of trips taken in 2007 on public transportation, while at the same time, vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) on our nation’s roads declined by 3.6 percent in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Even as gas prices fell for the second half of the year and hundreds of thousands of people lost jobs, more and more people chose to ride public transportation throughout the country,” said APTA president William W. Millar. “Given our current economic condition, people are looking for ways to save money and taking public transportation offers a substantial savings of more than $8,000 a year. That’s quite a savings.”

This ridership record continues a long term trend of ridership growth. Public transportation use is up 38% percent since 1995, a figure that is almost triple the growth rate of the population (14 percent) and up substantially over the growth rate for the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on our nation’s highways (21%) for that same period.

Millar announced the ridership increase before more than 600 public transit leaders at an APTA conference in Washington, D.C. He noted that the record ridership shows the clear demand for public transit and compelling need for increased investment at the federal, state, and local levels.

Millar also announced the launch of a new advocacy campaign, Public Transportation Takes Us There, which is aimed at building congressional support for the authorization of the federal surface transportation legislation, which expires Sept. 30, 2009.

“Now, more than ever, the value of public transportation is evident and the public has clearly demonstrated that they want and need more public transit services,” said Millar. “Public transportation is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for energy independence and now is the time for the federal government to increase its investment in public transportation.”

Beyond the need for greater public transit investment in a new federal surface transportation bill (the current one legislation expires September 30, 2009), and the 2010 appropriations bill, APTA is advocating for the inclusion of public transportation investment in any energy or climate change bill.

“Every year, public transportation saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline and reduces our nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons,” said Millar. “Clearly, public transportation is part of the solution for our country’s national goals of energy independence and carbon emissions reduction.

Millar also called on local and state governments to increase their investment in public transportation. Currently, transit systems are facing fare increases, service reductions, and layoffs – at a time of record ridership – because of declining state and local revenues.

2008 Ridership Breakdown
For the second year in a row, ridership on all modes of public transportation increased in every quarter. Light rail (modern streetcars, trolleys, and heritage trolleys) had the highest percentage of annual ridership increase among all modes, with an 8.3 percent increase in 2008. The light rail system that started in November 2007 in Charlotte, NC showed the highest percentage of increase with an annual 862 percent increase. The New Orleans, LA light rail system, which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, had an annual increase of 218 percent. Light rail systems with double digit ridership in 2008 were located in the following areas: Buffalo (23.9%); Philadelphia (23.3 %); Sacramento (14.4%); Baltimore (13.7%); Minneapolis (12.3%); Salt Lake City (12.3%); the state of New Jersey (10.9%); Denver (10.5%); and Dallas (10.2%).

Commuter rail increased in 2008 by 4.7 percent. The commuter rail systems with the double digit ridership growth rate in 2008 were located in the following areas: Albuquerque (35.1%); Portland, ME (26.5%); Seattle (23.8%); Pompano Beach, FL (22.9%); Harrisburg-Philadelphia (17.7%); New Haven (17.5%); Oakland (16.1%); Stockton, CA (14.7%); Dallas-Fort Worth (14.1%); San Carlos, CA (12.5%).

Heavy rail (subways) ridership increased by 3.5% in 2008. The heavy rail systems with the highest increases in ridership for 2008 were in the following cities: San Juan (13.3%); Lindenwold, NJ (9.9%); Atlanta (8.6%); Miami (8.2%), Boston (7.9%), and Los Angeles (7.7%).

Bus service saw an increase of 3.9 percent, but in communities with a population of less than 100,000, bus services saw an increase of 9.3 percent in 2008. Major increases by large bus agencies occurred in the following cities: Phoenix (11.5%); San Antonio (10.2%); San Diego (10.0%); St. Louis (8.9%); Baltimore (8.7%); and Denver (8.6%).

Demand response (paratransit) increased in 2008 by 5.9 percent.

To see the complete APTA ridership report go to http://www.apta.com/research/stats/ridership

For more information on public transportation’s role in climate change and energy independence, go to http://publictransportation.org/takesusthere/

[vaberella]

1. And this is how it begins...

Massive movement for urban transformation. Even suburbia is going to have to jump on the bandwagon for this. More and more we'll have to invest in infrastructure to meet the demand when cars become 100% luxury than ever a necessity. I personally think with an increase in public transportation activity they'll (the city) be forced to spend more on pedestrian walk ways and provide the necessary changes for alternative travel...ie more bike/rollerblade/walking walkways even on high ways.

[etherealtruth]

2. Perhaps, one day ....

A "real" mass transit system will be in place in southeastern Michigan (Metro Detroit).

[marmar]

5. For the first time in a long time, some real progress here in the land of single-driver commutes:

Dream of regional rail-transit system is nearing reality
$44 million for line pledged; leaders back plan

BY JOHN GALLAGHER • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • March 16, 2009


After decades of missed chances, southeast Michigan appears closer than ever to getting what other major cities already enjoy -- a true regional transportation system.

The first link in that potential system got a major boost last week when the Kresge Foundation and Detroit's Downtown Development Authority pledged a combined $44 million to the proposed M1-RAIL light-rail line on Woodward in Detroit.

The potential is big. Beyond actually moving people from place to place, regional transit systems tend to spur nearby creation of residential, retail and other development. The regional transit plan being considered for southeast Michigan envisions 30,000 new jobs, $1.4 billion in annual payroll and almost 11,000 housing units built near the transit lines, as well as boosted retail sales and other benefits, all spurred by the year 2035 if a regional transit system is built.

Momentum is building. In addition to the big pledges last week, Congress approved a $950,000 earmark for a Detroit-Ann Arbor route, and regional leaders expressed hope late last week that some of the federal stimulus money could go toward a regional transit system.

"What gives me the most optimism is that we've gotten to the point where just about everyone in the region agrees we need quality regional transit," said Megan Owens, executive director of the nonprofit citizens group Transportation Riders United. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20090316/BUSINESS04/903160367/?imw=Y

[tonysam]

8. Sorry, It ISN'T "Progress."

Only people who don't have to use it romanticize it. Being forced to use it is a pain in the ass.

[marmar]

10. I think people who sit in traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway or the Cross-Bronx every morning.....

..... would beg to differ?

[etherealtruth]

13. I drive the entirety of a local freeway (+ a few more miles on an other freeway)

... everyday. Having no options (either way), is to say the least, less than ideal.

I have lived in Virginia (suburban DC) and in Delaware. I loved the VRE. I like the option. If I could not afford a car I would be SOL. There are NO options here.

I could conceivably live closer to work .... IFF I could talk my employer into quadrupling my salary :(

[surrealAmerican]

17. Just like only people who don't have to commute by car romanticize driving.

You bring up a valid point here. People spend far too much time commuting, whichever way they do it.

[Dreamer Tatum]

15. Yeah, we just need huge unemployment and high gas prices

to make public transit work. That was all we needed.

[tonysam]

6. Sorry, But This ISN'T "Good News."

Being forced to take public transportation is a major restriction on one's freedom to go wherever one wants. People who don't use it often romanticize it, but in most areas of the United States, public transit is NOT a valid option.

I HATE having been forced to use it because I no longer had a car. Public transit in Reno is being CUT, and it is impossible to conduct any kind of real job search without a car, let alone it being an absolute pain in the ass to use it for commuting.

I am getting a car--finally. Being without a car for seven months STINKS.

[etherealtruth]

14. As I posted above ....

It is the lack of option that sucks.

In Metro-Detroit we have NO options.

[BlooInBloo]

3. I pay for my bus pass through work, which uses pre-tax dollars. A nice little benefit.

[Captain Hilts]

4. So, prices are being raised to make it less affordable. nt

[tonysam]

7. Public Transit is Being Cut All Over the Country.

It's another assault on the poor, but as I said above, public transit isn't a real option in most areas of the country. People need cars to go to work and to be able to travel freely.

I can't emphasize enough how RESTRICTED your freedom is when you are forced to take the bus.

[marmar]

9. How "free" is your travel when you're sitting in traffic going nowhere for two hours in the morning?

n/t

[tonysam]

11. And You THINK It is BETTER to Take a Bus

standing in the rain for perhaps an HOUR and commuting for three fucking hours just to buy groceries?

You OBVIOUSLY don't know what you are talking about. You obviously don't use it.

You can't freely travel out of state, go on trips camping, hiking, and so forth, when you are forced to take the fucking bus. Most public transportation in the United States has LIMITED routes, so you are FORCED to walk or take a goddamned cab.

[marmar]

12. Umm, we get it.....public transit sucks. Yadayadayada......

:eyes:

[Gormy Cuss]

16. You seem to be saying that the only reason to take public transit is that you don't have a car.

That's a pretty common reaction from people who've never used it too. It's a mindset that allows the government to marginalize public transit in the transportation budget.

Public transit doesn't need to be seen as an all or nothing deal. In metro areas where the public transit is good, many people use it for work commuting and have a car for those other trips you mentioned. In big cities with excellent system most of us did without owning a car at all and it was easy because service placement (supermarkets, day care, dentists, etc) were heavily concentrated near transit routes. If you wanted to go to the boonies for hiking, you could rent a car for the day.

Reno's big enough that the public transit system should make it feasible to use a car for most M-F daytime commuting, but it doesn't surprise me that the system isn't that good. As long as we underfund mass transit as the ugly stepchild of transportation planning it will remain that way.