Hello again Santabarbara,
The results of my research are as follows:
According to a consumer survey released Nov. 3 by the Urban Land
Institute conducted by Harris Interactive, higher gas prices are
causing Americans to alter their driving habits and to either use or
consider using public transportation if the option is available.
?The majority of the respondents said gas prices had caused them to
make some changes in both commuting and non-commuting travel. While
nearly 90 percent said they had driven alone to work during the
previous week, 40 percent said they had used alternative methods of
commuting during the previous year, with the favored alternatives
being using trains or bus systems and carpooling.?
?Of those who commuted by alternative methods, nearly 25 percent did
so to save money. In terms of non-commute trips, such as errands, 81
percent said they have started combining more trips, and 45 percent
have eliminated some non-commuting trips.?
?Of those who drove alone to work, 38 percent said solo driving was
more convenient, and 37 percent said they had no alternative. Gas
prices caused 35 percent of all respondents to buy a more
fuel-efficient car. Residents of the west, midwest, and south,
respectively were the more likely to switch to fuel-efficient cars
than those in the east, likely reflecting a higher dependency on autos
in all regions compared to the east, where transit ridership is more
prevalent.?
ULI Senior Resident Fellow Edward McMahon noted that ?the survey
findings suggest that higher gas prices may be the "tipping point"
that causes a general shift in consumer attitudes regarding
development that is more concentrated and that mixes uses, versus
sprawling, isolated-use development that relies heavily on autos for
mobility.?
Emerging Trends Real Estate Report
According to a 2006 Emerging Trends in Real Estate report, released by
ULI and PricewaterhouseCoopers: "High gas pump prices and suburban
congestion are stimulating more interest in urban
alternatives--24-hour downtowns and subcities," Emerging Trends says.
"Transit-oriented development near subway or light rail lines almost
can't miss.?
??The survey results show that growing traffic congestion and sky-high
gas prices are causing people to seriously consider ways to reduce
driving through fewer and more efficient trips, carpooling, walking,
transit, and moving to places where they do not have to drive as
much.?
American Public Transportation Association: November 21, 2005
http://apta100.apta.com/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=http://apta100.apta.com/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apta.com%2Fpassenger_transport%2Fthisweek%2Farchive_search.cfm&TN=passtran&SN=AUTO29123&SE=295&RN=3&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=2&XP=&RF=Brief+List&EF=&DF=Full+Text&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=3&ID=&MF=ptengmsg.ini&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=2206&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&BG=0&FG=000000&QS=
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According to a consumer study by the Urban Land Institute, Americans
are shifting their driving habits due the higher cost of gas.
?The study showed that respondents of all ages, in all regions and all
locations (urban, suburban and rural) listed gas prices as one of the
greatest issues of concern.?
Other findings include:
?The majority of respondents indicated that they had changed their
commuting habits due to price increases.?
?Eighty one percent indicated that they had started combining more
trips and 45 percent have eliminated some non commuting trips.?
?The study also indicated that, where possible, participants indicated
a willingness to switch to commuter rail or bus service.?
?? the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) reports that
ridership on its bus system has grown 24 percent since the recent gas
price spikes. RIPTA also reports that sales of monthly bus passes are
up 55 percent from last year.?
NGA: 11/17/2005
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.9123e83a1f6786440ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=ad4d4088dfe97010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD
Gas Prices: The Tipping Point Toward Better Development? ULI?s
Nationwide Survey Explores Consumer Attitudes
http://www.uli.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Search&template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=39181
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High Gas Prices, Emerging Technologies Spur Transit Ridership Increases
According to American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
president William W. Millar,with gas prices now at record levels, more
people across the, country are turning to public transportation.
Examples of Ridership Increases in Various U.S. Metropolitan Areas
The examples that reflect indications of ridership increases listed
here are based on responses from U.S. transit systems to an inquiry
from APTA, as well as information from APTA's second quarter
(April-June) 2005 ridership data.
Austin Capital Metro has seen ridership increases particularly on its
Express routes, its vanpools have been full with waiting lists since
June, and call volume into its Rideshare office increased by 40% from
July to August.
Buffalo Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority - Metro ridership
for the first nine months of 2005 is up 348,564 riders or 2.3% as
compared to the same period in 2004.
Charlotte CATS - For the seventh consecutive year, the Charlotte Area
Transit System (CATS) continued to break records in ridership. CATS
ended fiscal year 2005 strong with an 8.2% increase in ridership
growth; up from a 5.3% increase in fiscal year 2004.?
Many more examples are available at the following link.
American Public Transportation Association: September 26, 2005
http://www.apta.com/media/releases/documents/050926gas_prices.pdf
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Survey of Motor Fuel Price Increases and Impact on Transit Services
Summary of findings (13 pages)
Download here:
http://www.apta.com/research/info/online/documents/fuel_price_survey_summary.pdf
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Higher Fuel Prices: A Double-Edged Sword for Transit September 19, 2005
?While many U.S. transit agencies report ridership growth at the same
time as increases in gasoline prices-and promote their services as a
way to get relief at the gas pump-transit systems largely do not have
data establishing a formal link between the two factors.?
??In Tulsa, Okla., Tulsa Transit reported seeing the fastest ridership
increases in its history amid the record-high gas prices in the area.
As of early September, the system reported a 15.5 percent jump in
daily ridership numbers since June, and a 36 percent increase since
this time last year.?
According to Tulsa Transit General Manager Bill Cartwright, "high fuel
prices are definitely increasing demand for public transit in our
area.?
??Other transit systems reporting ridership increases concurrent with
high gas prices include the Metropolitan Transit Authority in
Nashville; Valley Metro in Phoenix; New Jersey Transit Corporation;
Port Authority Transit Corporation in Lindenwold, N.J.; the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority; the Jacksonville
Transportation Authority in Jacksonville, Fla.; and EZ Rider in
Midland and Odessa, Texas.?
American Public Transportation Association: Passenger Transport
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As Fuel Prices Climb, Transit Ridership Grows
?As the price of gasoline passed the $2-a-gallon mark in early 2005
and continues to rise, many drivers are realizing that public
transportation offers a more cost-effective way to go. Transit
ridership began to climb as agencies put out the message that
traveling their way can be cheaper than the car, and the ridership
growth has continued.?
Read the full text of this article here:
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High gas prices impact Baton Rouge; bus and bike use on the rise
?Across the country Americans have been responding to the increase in
gas prices by looking to public transportation.
According to an April 23 report in USA Today, Thursday was the sixth
busiest day in Washington D.C. for the Monorail and Tuesday was the
ninth busiest.
In San Francisco, ridership on the Bay Area Rapid Transit is up 4.1
percent for the fiscal year, which spokesmen attribute to heavy
traffic and high gas prices.?
The Daily Reveille: April 26, 2006
http://www.lsureveille.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/04/26/444f05d65f324
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Transportation Demand Management programs across the nation, such as Commuter
Connections, have seen increased interest in commute-alternative programs.
?We?ve seen a direct correlation between the high gas prices which
escalated this past summer and increased Web hits, phone inquiries,
and in general, a more receptive market for commuting alternatives,?
said Leann Landry, Chair of the Commuter Connections Subcommittee and
Metro?s Manager of Advertising and Promotions. Metro recorded an 8
percent increase in subway ridership for September 2005 compared to
September 2004, or about 40,000 new riders per day.?
Commuter Connections: Fall 2005
http://www.mwcog.org/commuter/Fall05CommuterConnectionsweb2.pdf
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High gasoline prices are turning some drivers into riders, say public
transit authorities in several states
?It's a trend that Joe Calabrese, general manager of the Greater
Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, expects to continue as long as a
gallon of gas remains about $2.?
?Calabrese acknowledges he has only anecdotal evidence, but says a
1.5% passenger increase in 2003 and 3.7% last year supports his
claim.?
??Also, RTA had a 5% surge in ridership in the first quarter of 2005,
when gas prices really started to climb.
While declining unemployment has increased the use of public
transportation in Denver, the Denver Regional Transportation District
is confident that gas prices have influenced the recent uptick,
spokesman Scott Reed said.
"It's pretty clear the spike in gas prices resulted in a corresponding
increase in ridership," Reed said.?
USA Today: April 2005
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-04-23-gas-prices-hit-wallets_x.htm
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According to Bob Johnson, Waukesha Metro Transit Director, ?higher
fuel prices are driving more motorists to the local bus stop. Through
June, Metro ridership was up 4 percent compared to the same period
last year, an increase Johnson said was larger than normal.?
"There is no question that part of the increase is due to the price of
gas," he said. Johnson added there is evidence that ridership will
continue to grow?
Bus fares, ridership up in wake of rising gas prices
Waukesha Metro bus riders paying 25 cents more
GM Today
August 26, 2005
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2005/August_05/08252005_01.asp
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Gas prices drive motorists to bus systems
April 28, 2006
WASHINGTON
?High gas prices may be draining the pocketbooks of Michigan
motorists, but they've helped boost the number of riders on the
state's regional bus systems.?
?Michigan public transit officials said Thursday that more drivers are
leaving their cars behind to commute to work or go shopping, and they
believe the record gas prices may be one reason for increased bus
ridership in recent months.?
http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-7/1146177614261950.xml&coll=1
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Search terms used:
fuel OR gas prices bus ridership increase
fuel OR gas prices transit increase
I hope the information provided is helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
