"Even with significant declines in gasoline prices, higher unemployment, a general economic downturn, and lower state and local revenue, public transportation use in the first quarter is essentially flat – almost matching last year's modern record first quarter ridership – declining by only 1.2%." (Source: Transit News Press Release, June, 15, 2009). Bus and heavy rail transit trips, which made up the majority of transit trips, were down less than 2% from 2008 to 2009. Light rail, trolleybus and the "other" category experienced increased ridership during 2009.

Transit Unlinked Passenger Trips, First Quarter 2008 and 2009

* Other includes aerial tramway, automated guideway, cable car, ferryboat, inclined plane, monorail, and vanpool.

 

Supporting Information

Transit Trips, First Quarter 2008 Compared to 2009
 Unlinked Passenger Trips 
 1st Quarter 20081st Quarter 2009Percent Change
Heavy rail861,349846,091-1.77%
Light rail108,776110,7081.78%
Commuter rail115,148111,661-3.03%
Trolleybus24,80425,9944.80%
Bus1,369,5861,352,941-1.22%
Demand Response53,63355,6413.75%
Other*44,67644,7730.22%
U.S. Total2,577,9712,547,808-1.17%

* Other includes aerial tramway, automated guideway, cable car, ferryboat, inclined plane, monorail, and vanpool.
Source: American Public Transportation Association, Transit Ridership Report, First Quarter 2009, June 2009.

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