Commuter Rail: Most Systems Struggling to Recover Ridership Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Roughly 5 years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, transit agencies report that it has significantly affected how individuals use and prioritize public transit in their daily activities. Many rail systems historically operated to serve passengers riding to and from city centers. Commuter rail was particularly affected by the pandemic and related increased telework. In response to the pandemic, Congress provided over $69 billion in relief funding to the transit industry. The federal public health emergency ended in 2023. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to provide an update to its 2021 report on the status of commuter rail systems’ operations and funding. This report examines how, since the COVID-19 pandemic, (1) commuter rail service and ridership have changed; and (2) funding sources and operating costs for these systems have changed. GAO analyzed Department of Transportation (DOT) service and ridership data from January 2019 through December 2024 for the nation’s 31 commuter rail systems. GAO also collected and analyzed funding and cost data for these systems for fiscal year 2023 using a web survey and compared these data to fiscal year 2019 data. GAO also reviewed relevant federal statutes and guidance and interviewed DOT officials, industry association representatives, and a nongeneralizable sample of 10 transit agencies operating commuter rail systems. These agencies were selected based on ridership levels and whether the agencies offered multiple transit modes, among other things.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107511.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107511-highlights.pdf
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Government Accountability Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 2025-5-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 67p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; COVID-19; Financing; Public transit; Railroad commuter service; Ridership; Transit operating agencies
• Subject Areas: Finance; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01954457
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO-25-107 511
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 2025 4:28PM