Elements Needed to Create High-Ridership Transit Systems (2007) / Chapter Skim
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Introduction As indicated in Table 2-1, ridership on all U.S. transit systems has risen substantially over the past decade.
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However, a number of the studies identified in Chapter 1, as well as the case studies conducted for this project, have examined the relative influences of external and internal factors on transit usage. The key findings from these studies are reviewed below.
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– Enhanced passenger amenities – Introduction of transit center-based route structures • Fare and pricing adaptations. Frequently mentioned actions included – The introduction or expansion of deep discount passes – The expansion of outlet sales – Cooperative programs with businesses or other organizations or institutions • Planning orientation.
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Category Type Strategies Service improvements General Increased route structure Increased frequency Service cutbacks Dynamic scheduling Increased speed Improved security Improved comfort Increased capacity Suburb to suburb High-occupancy vehicle lanes/facilities Transportation demand management programs Suburban activity centers Suburb to central city Feeder services Fare integration Service coordination (timed transfers) Unitickets Station parking provisions Within central city Core services Information to customers Real-time information services Location Schedules Low technology Tailored schedules Bus stop information Medium technology Computerized information systems Kiosks Marketing and promotion Fare incentives Education New resident promotion Image advertising Cooperative promotions Public policy changes User-side subsidies Parking pricing/regulation Income taxes Fuel/carbon taxes Dedicated operating support Land use policy Local area bus services Road pricing Various SOURCE: TCRP Report 27: Building Transit Ridership: An Exploration of Transit's Market Share and the Public Policies That Influence It (1997)
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However, in considering these mode choice factors, the authors conclude that "transit-side strategies alone are insufficient to achieve a large modal shift" (p.
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Mineta Institute Study The Mineta Transportation Institute study cited earlier (Increasing Transit Ridership: Lessons from the Most Successful Transit Systems in the 1990's) provides the most comprehensive review of the relative impacts of external and internal factors on transit ridership.
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• Marketing and information programs. This category includes advertising, niche marketing/ market segmentation, survey research and customer satisfaction feedback mechanisms.
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Other Studies A number of other studies have considered the relative impacts of internal and external factors on transit ridership. For example, Gomez-Ibanez ("Big-City Transit Ridership, Deficits and Politics Avoiding Reality in Boston," 1996)
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1976–1990) , found that several external factors (per capita income, automobile ownership, and suburbanization of residences and employment locations)
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ten marketing/promotional and information initiatives and nine fare collection/structure initiatives. The most common type of strategy was operating/service adjustments (40 separate actions, strategies or initiatives implemented by all of the case study agencies)
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The case studies examined, to the extent possible, the effect of specific strategies on ridership at each agency. In some cases, however, strategies are too recent to allow for any assessment of the ridership impact.
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there was no discernible direct relationship between the unemployment trend and ridership in any of the case study systems. • Regarding population changes, the case study areas varied considerably: one area (Cleveland)
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– The availability and cost of transit (i.e., fare, employer or other subsidy, if any, and parking cost, if applicable)
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Categorization of Internal Factors and Strategies/Initiatives Factors Affecting Transit Demand As indicated above, a transit agency can control key mode choice decision parameters in two basic areas: pricing/availability and service quality. Thus, the agency's goal in seeking to generate high ridership is essentially to influence mode choice by (1)
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20 Elements Needed to Create High Ridership Transit Systems Category/ Subcategory Type of Strategy Examples of Specific Actions/Initiatives Operating/Service Adjustments Routing/coverage adjustments Increased route coverage Service expansion; introduction of local circulators Route restructuring Reallocation to most productive routes, new crosstown routes Improved schedule/route coordination Feeder services; timed transfers; transit centers; regional integration Scheduling/frequency adjustments Increased service frequency Increased frequency on specific routes Increased span of service Longer service hours (e.g., late night/weekend) Improved reliability/on-time performance Implementation of AVL, transit signal priority, transfer connection protection New types of service Improved travel speed/reduced stops Introduction of express bus, BRT, rail Targeted services University-oriented service, downtown circulator, special event shuttle Improved amenities Passenger facility improvements Improved bus stop/station, transit center, park-and-ride amenities New/improved vehicles Improved amenities, use of articulated buses Increased security Increased agency security presence Increased safety Promotion of safety features of vehicles Partnerships/Coordination Partnerships University/school pass programs Reduced pass price or per trip reimbursement to university (or other school)
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Factors Affecting Ridership 21 • Nature of passenger amenities (i.e., related to cleanliness, aesthetics, and comfort of vehicles and stations/bus stops/shelters) ; • Ease of fare payment (e.g., purchase of prepaid options and type and technology of payment)
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