Why has public transit ridership declined in the United States?

Between 2012 and 2018, bus ridership in the United States declined 15% and rail ridership declined 3%. These losses are widespread and in contrast to trends in other countries. Using data from 215 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors identify the factors responsible for this decline and quantify the contribution of each. The authors show that expanded transit service and land-use changes increased ridership 4.7% on bus and 10.7% on rail. However, losses due to other factors exceed these gains. Ride-hailing is the biggest contributor to transit ridership decline over this period, reducing bus ridership by 10%. Ride-hailing’s effect on rail varies by metropolitan area size: it has little effect on rail ridership in the largest metropolitan areas but decreases rail ridership 10% in mid-sized metropolitan areas. Lower gas prices and higher fares contribute to lower transit ridership, as do higher incomes, more teleworking and higher car ownership. By providing a clear understanding of the causes of transit ridership decline, the authors' research provides the foundation on which communities can craft an effective response to the problem.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2022.04.006
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856422000945
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09658564
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2022 Gregory D. Erhardt et al. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Erhardt, Gregory D
  • Hoque, Jawad Mahmud
  • Goyal, Vedant
  • Berrebi, Simon
  • Brakewood, Candace
  • Watkins, Kari E
• Publication Date: 2022-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 68-87
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
  • Volume: 161
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0965-8564
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile ownership; Fares; Fuels; Impacts; Income; Metropolitan areas; Prices; Public transit; Ridership; Ridesourcing; Telecommuting
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01848120
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 7 2022 4:13PM