Business Logistics 420Public Transportation

Lectures 8: The Performance and Condition of Transit in the

United States

Lecture Objectives

• Overview of the structure of the transit industry in the U.S., i.e., the number of firms by mode, size of firms, ownership

• Characteristics of transit riders

• Revenue and cost characteristics of the industry

The U.S. Transit Industry

• Nearly 6,000 transit agencies in the U.S., but 30 largest account for 95 percent of all transit ridership

• New York City alone accounts for about 35 percent of all transit trips

• Mostly bus and demand response systems

Number of Systems by Mode

• 2,262 Bus systems

• 5,254 Demand Response Systems (small bus and van)

• 14 Heavy Rail (subway, elevated)

• 23 Light Rail

• 5 Trolley Bus

• 1 Cable Car

Transit Ridership by Mode

• 8.7 billion unlinked trips -- 1998– 61.6% by bus– 27.4% by heavy rail– 11.0% by other modes

• 58.7% of bus trips in areas > 2 million population

U.S. Transit Industry Revenue

Sources of Transit Operating Revenue

Psgrs41%

Local20%

Federal4%

State20%

Other15%

U.S. Transit Industry Expenses

Distribution of Expenses

Operations45%

Vehicle Maint.19%

Non-Veh. Maint10%

Admin.16%

Purchased Trans.10%

Characteristics of Transit Riders• Gender - 52% Women• Age

– 10% under 18– 7% over 65

• Race– 31% African American– 18% Hispanic

• Income– 27% below $15k– 55% between $15k and $50k– 17% over $50k

Transit Trip PurposesDistribution of Transit Trip Purpose

Work54%

School15%

Medical9%

Shopping9%

Social6%

Other7%

The Competition -- The CAR

• 94 percent of all households have at least one vehicle

• 89 percent of persons 16+ years old have driver’s license

• Average person makes 3.88 trips per day

Auto Ownership Rates (1995)

Travel Trends 1960 - 1990

• Commute Mode Choice– Private auto travel increased 141%

– Private vehicle mode share increased from 67 percent to 87 percent over the same time period

– The share of work travel for driving alone increased from 64.4 percent in 1980 to 73.2 percent in 1990.

Travel Trends 1960 - 1990

• Commute Mode Choice– From 1960 to 1990, the number of workers using public

transportation as their main means of transportation to work declined 22 percent

– The resulting mode share for the work trip declined from 12.6 percent in 1960 to 5.3 percent in 1990.

– From 1960 to 1980, the number of workers working at home declined 53 percent; however, the number increased 56 percent increase in the 1980's.

Travel Trends 1960 - 1990

• The proportion of workers driving alone increased from 64.4 per- cent to 73.2 percent.

• The number of workers in each carpool category declined from 1980 to 1990,– 9 percent decline for 2-person carpools

– 40 percent decline for 3-person carpools

– 46 percent decline for 4 or more person carpools

Growth Patterns of Urban Areas

• Total population in most urbanized areas has increased over past 30 years but– very large increases in Sun Belt– very little growth or absolute decline in NE

cities

• Suburban areas account for most growth

• Central cities declining in population in most areas with extensive transit

Transit and the Current Urban Landscape

• Most high quality (rail) transit located in NE and Midwestern cities that are experiencing decline or slow growth

• Rail systems designed for suburb to central city trips or local trips within central city

• Most growth now outside areas served by high quality transit

Transit and the Current Urban Landscape

• Travel demand patterns scattered and low density of demand so that high capacity transit is ineffective

• Most households have access to vehicle, but for the 6-10 percent that do not, the facilities of the modern city may be inaccessible

The Markets for Transit in the Edge City Environment

• Work trips from the suburbs to the central city for choice riders

• General mobility for all residents within older urban areas with high quality (rail) transit

• General mobility for transportation disadvantaged in all communities

Strategies for Transit Systems to Develop Markets

• Offer high quality, grade-separated transit service wherever possible

• Provide general mobility with bus service that includes flex route and demand response options

• Target niche markets (some examples)– Activity centers (university campus)

– Special events (football games)

– Subscription services for suburban employees

Study Questions

• Discuss the major trends in urban travel patterns (trip purpose, mode choice, occupancy, trip characteristics) that will influence the role of public transportation in the coming years.

• What is the profile of the “typical” transit rider?• What are the key markets for transit in the 21st

century?