The latest data from the American Public Transportation Association reveals the national consequences of many local examples of declining transit use.
"Americans took 9.9 billion public transit trips in 2018, a 2% decrease from 2017, according to a report [pdf] from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)," reports Katie Pyzyk.
"Bus ridership fell 1.84%, light rail (streetcars, modern trolleys, heritage trolleys) fell 2.98% and heavy rail (subways and elevated trains) fell 2.6%," adds Pyzyk. "Commuter rail was the only mode with a ridership increase at 0.41%."
Pyzyk compares the APTA data to date from the American Community Survey and KPMG and finds similar narratives emerging. The article also includes a survey of some of the steps local transit agencies are taking to deliver more contemporary transit solutions, while also linking to reports that include more recommendations on the steps local and regional transit agencies can take to win back riders.
FULL STORY: APTA: Public transit ridership down in 2018
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research