Trends in Transit
On this page you will find information on ridership figures, public
support for transit and the various transportation choices local
communities are making.
Energy Conservation & Air Quality
President Bush labeled the United States "addicted to oil."
Public transportation is part of the solution to reducing the nation's
dependency on foreign oil and provides vital environmental benefits.
New research outlines the energy advantages to public transportation
investments and the dramatic potential impact on energy consumption
and environmental quality.
The
Benefits of Public Transportation: Conserving Energy and Preserving
the Air We Breath
Bus Rapid Transit
Check out our new section on Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT)!
As communities attempt to address their urban mobility issues, the
menu of alternative transportation opportunities has grown in recent
years to include Bus Rapid Transit. BRT’s ability to be built
quickly, incrementally, and economically has reinforced its popularity
as an alternative to light rail. But, what is BRT, and is it right
for your community?
Reports
Strong Support for Walkable Communities: Belden
Russonello & Stewart National Survey
April 2003-- As policymakers and the public debate
the different aspects of transportation issues, the Surface Transportation
Policy Project asked the polling firm Belden Russonello & Stewart
to measure the public’s attitudes toward one aspect of this
debate – walking. This new national survey on attitudes toward
walking finds that the American public wants to walk more places
more often, and is willing to invest in making it possible. Poll
results show that if given a choice between walking more and driving
more, 55 percent of adults choose walking more. The poll shows overwhelming
support for policies to make the walking environment less dangerous
for people of all ages, and especially children. A majority (68
percent) favor putting more federal dollars toward improving walkability,
even within a constrained budget.
View the full report at: http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=205
Return to Top
Most Americans Link Increasing Investment in
Public Transportation to Solving Congestion and a Better Quality
of Life
March 12, 2003-Four in five (81 percent) Americans believe that
increased investment in public transportation strengthens the economy,
creates jobs, reduces traffic congestion and air pollution, and
saves energy, according to a new national poll conducted by Wirthlin
Worldwide.
The survey found that almost three-quarters (72 percent) support
the use of public funds for the expansion and improvement of public
transportation. Also, 64 percent said that they would be more likely
to support a candidate for Congress who is favorable to improving
public transportation options.
Wirthlin Worldwide conducted the telephone survey February 12-16.
It polled a random sample of 1,003 adults, 18 years of age and older,
living in the continental United States. The American Public Transportation
Association commissioned the survey.
"These results show that Americans clearly are looking to
public transit as a solution to the growing congestion crisis and
are willing to pay for it. Most interesting is that these findings
cut across all geographic locations: urban suburban, rural and small
town areas," said Dee Allsop, PhD., Wirthlin chief executive
officer.
Other key survey findings:
" Traffic congestion is an important issue and most adults
(56 percent) say that the need to reduce traffic congestion and
the time it takes to get to work has become more important in the
past five years.
" Most Americans, even those living in rural areas of the
country, agree that their community needs more public transportation
options.
" Regardless of geographic location, residents voice support
for public transportation options and funding in their communities:
urban (64 percent), suburban (59 percent), rural (51 percent), and
small town (55 percent).
"Americans see public transportation as a worthy investment
for the country," said APTA President William W. Millar. "This
recognition comes at a particularly important time as the Congress
prepares to reauthorize federal legislation governing federal surface
transportation programs."
A summary of survey results are attached and can be found at http://www.apta.com/news/releases/wirthlin.htm.
Poll results were released at a press conference before bi-partisan
leadership of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
in Washington, D.C.
Return to Top
Public Transportation Scored Another Record
Year In 2000
WASHINGTON, D.C, January 10, 2001 - In the year 2000, more Americans
decided to leave the driving to someone else. Last year, usage of
U.S. public transportation systems grew by an estimated 320 million
rides, to a total of 9.4 billion trips, according to preliminary
estimates released today by the American Public Transportation Association
(APTA). This record ridership represents the highest level of use
in public transportation in more than forty years, according to
APTA.
In his last week in office, then-U.S. Transportation Secretary
Rodney E. Slater announced last year's estimated record-setting
ridership at the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board
in Washington, D.C. Joining Secretary Slater for the announcement
was Acting Federal Transit Administrator Nuria Fernandez and William
W. Millar, President of the American Public Transportation Association.
This increase comes on the heels of record ridership the previous
year when over 9 billion trips were made on the nation's transit
systems. In the past five years, ridership on the nation's public
transportation systems has grown by over 20 percent.
"Investments made in public transportation services offer
the American people real opportunities and choices, " said
William W. Millar, President of the American Public Transportation
Association, who made the latest ridership figures available. "When
people are given a choice, they will ride easy-to-use quality public
transportation."
The growth in public transportation ridership is attributed to
the strong economy, higher levels of investment by federal, state
and local sources and enhanced customer services by the nation's
transit systems that meet the needs of today's traveling public.
All major transit modes across the nation showed ridership increases
in 2000. APTA expects to release final 2000 ridership figures in
April.
APTA is a nonprofit international association of over 1,300 member
organizations including transit systems; planning, design, construction
and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions,
and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members
serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical
transit services and products. APTA members serve over ninety percent
of people using public transportation in North America.
Return to Top
Annual Change in Driving and Transit Use, 1994-2000
The number of vehicle miles traveled has dropped steadily since
1997, as this chart from the Surface Transportation Policy Project
illustrates. Use of mass transit, on the other hand, has increased.
The Surface Transportation Policy Project is a non-profit organization
advocating transportation policy and investments that will help
conserve energy, protect environmental and aesthetic quality, strengthen
the economy, promote social equity, and make communities more livable.
Return to Top
Light Rail Ridership Growing Nationwide
Ridership on the nation's light rail systems in the third quarter
of 2000 was up by more than 12 percent over the same period in 1999,
according to a survey released in January 2001 by the American Public
Transportation Association.
During the months of July, August and September of 2000, more than
81.1 million passenger trips were registered on light rail systems
across the country, up from 72.7 million in the same three months
of 1999. Ridership also rose in the third quarter of 2000 over the
year's second quarter by more than 4 percent.
The greatest reported light rail ridership increase was aboard
the 14-mile Denver, Colorado light rail line, which in July opened
the new 8.7-mile Southwest Corridor line. There, ridership in the
third quarter was up more than 72 percent.
"On opening day, we were projecting 8,400 passenger trips
daily on the new extenstion, and we're actually averaging over 13,000
per day. That's significant," said Debbie Weaver, transportation
planner with Denver's Regional Transportation District.
Other leaders in light rail ridership increases over 1999 third
quarter numbers included:
New Jersey Transit Corporation, 42 percent
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's San Jose, CA line,
38 percent
San Diego Trolley, 19 percent
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's Philadelphia
line, 12 percent
There's no question light rail has caught on in cities where its
taken root. As mobility, job access, livability and economic development
flourish in light rail corridors, congestion and other environmental
obstacles diminish. The numbers say it all: More than 50 new or
extended rail systems have been added since the 1980s, and 94 miles
of light rail are currently under construction throughout the United
States.
Perhaps one of the greatest testaments to the popularity of new
light rail systems is in Salt Lake City, where ridership numbers
have exceeded all early expectations. Transportation officials there
predicted 14,000 riders per day when the system first opened in
December 1999. Instead, they counted an average of more than 19,000
riders per day in the first four months of the year. Today, more
than 20,000 people ride the TRAX system during the week, and more
than 23,000 on the weekends.
Salt Lake City's light rail has breathed new life into the city's
downtown, where two major shopping malls have experienced double-digit
traffic count increases. Since the light rail opened, "downtown
Salt Lake has a totally different feel to it. You can tell by just
looking at the increased number of people walking down the sidewalks,"
said Mel Pearson, chair for the city's Downtown Retail Merchants
Association.
Denver's light rail system has also proven to be a huge success.
Clarence Marsella, general manager and chief executive officer with
the Denver Regional Transportation District, noted that the city's
Southwest Corridor line is 56 percent ahead of ridership projections.
"We have found that light rail offers a fast, efficient and
cost-competitive alternative to the automobile."
Realizing the numerous benefits of light rail, dozens of cities
across the nation are taking a serious look at bringing light rail
to their communities. Some are in the beginning stages. Others cast
their votes in support of light rail initiatives in November 2000.
Stay tuned to the Center for Transportation Excellence and the American
Public Transportation Association for the latest in light rail news
and numbers.
Return to Top
Public Transportation Use Keeps Growing
SAN FRANCISCO, California - More and more commuters are choosing
transportation, according to a report released by the American Public
Transportation Association (APTA) in late September. Ridership increased
by 4.3 percent in the second quarter of 2000, compared to the same
period last year in the U.S.
This increase comes on the heels of a 4.8 percent increase in 1999
when more than 9 billion trips, the highest ridership since 1960,
were made on the nation's transit systems. Since 1995, ridership
on the nation's public transportation systems has grown by 19 percent.
"Everyday, more people are recognizing the benefits of public
transportation in providing them opportunities and choices, "
said William W. Millar, President of the American Public Transportation
Association, who released the latest ridership figures. "Increased
use of public transportation is enhancing peoples' lives as well
as our communities."
All transit modes showed ridership increases this quarter, led
by heavy rail - up 10 percent. Light rail, trolleybus and mid-size
bus systems showed growth of over 5 percent, followed by commuter
rail at 4.9 percent. Large bus system ridership grew by more than
3 percent, and demand response service continued its growth trend,
rising 5.5 percent.
Canadian systems reported an increase of 5.5% over the same quarter
last year, and a year-to-date increase of 5% over the first six
months of 1999.
APTA is a nonprofit international association of over 1,300 member
organizations including transit systems; planning, design, construction
and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions,
and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members
serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical
transit services and products. APTA members serve over ninety percent
of people using public transportation in North America.
Return to Top
|
