Mass Transit in High Demand - 7/22/08

U.S. cities scramble to meet the rising demand for mass transit as gas prices continue to rise. 

Regions in the U.S. that have limited access to mass transit are reporting a surge in public transportation.

The American Public Transportation Association reports all modes of public transportation including trains, trolleys, subways and buses are in growing demand.

Cities are using a number of measures to meet the demand.  The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority which is operating at capacity is ordering more subway cars and buses.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority has seen 20,000 new daily customers and has ordered 400 new hybrid buses and 120 new rail cars.

Other measures being used are increasing the frequency of buses and trains as well as changing schedules.

Colorado’s transit system is partly funded by revenues from sales tax.  As people spend less because of high fuel cost the city earns less revenue.  This has caused less funding to the transit system while their operating costs are higher than ever.

Americans are using public transportation in record numbers.  The first quarter of this year Americans took 2.6 billion trips on public transportation which is an 85 million increase in trips compared to the same time period last year.

At the same time Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles from April 2007 through April 2008. 

Gas prices could be a turning point in the perceptions of public transportation and how cities plan development.

This change in perception is causing some cities to move away from six lane highways and suburbs dozens of miles apart to urban centers connected by light rail and other forms of public transportation.

This current environment may lead to a future of hybrid cars coexisting with public transpiration.

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