Understanding links between transit ridership and auto gas prices: US and Australian evidence

Auto gas price rises have been cited as a major recent driver of transit ridership growth. Research in 2007 established that for every 10 per cent increase in gas prices, US transit demand has increased by 1.2 per cent. In Australia gas price impacts on ridership have been larger due to higher gas prices (20-30 per cent higher than US prices). Recent research demonstrates significant impacts on low income travellers and links between increased gas prices, rising home loan interest rates and ridership growth. This paper summarises the results of Australian research to establish the impacts of both auto gas prices and home loan interest rates on transit demand. The research disaggregates impacts by individual transit mode (rail, BRT and bus), service group and time period to explore causal factors. The research relates Australian findings to the US trends. Findings show that housing affordability is a critical influence on interest rate influences which might be relevant to the US. Longer distance travel was also associated with higher gas price ridership effects.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Currie, G
  • Phung, J
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2008-1-13 to 2008-1-17
• Date: 2008-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting compendium of papers DVD, January 13-17, 2008, Washington, DC

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dwellings; Economics; Modal shift; Public transit; Socioeconomic factors
• Uncontrolled Terms: International comparison
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Dwelling; Fuel costs; International comparison; Modal shift; Public transport; Socioeconomic factors; Transport economics
• ITRD Terms: 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Economics; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01385032
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 6:29PM