As gas prices continue to increase, some transit agencies are beginning to see an increase in ridership, and others are anticipating an increase in customers.
In general, it is too soon for much hard data on ridership, but some figures are available.
Tri-Rail, the South Florida commuter rail operation, says single-day ridership surpassed more than 11,000 customers on Wednesday, the first time above that figure since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. WPTV reports Tri-Rail ridership fell about 80% during the peak of the pandemic, and had recently stabilized at about 10,000 riders per day.
Also in South Florida, privately operated Brightline, which — like Tri-Rail — operates between Miami and West Palm Beach, reports its latest figures show an increase in monthly-pass sales of almost 250%. A Brightline unlimited-use monthly pass costs $199, which the company notes is about the cost of two tanks of gas for larger vehicles, with South Florida gas prices above $5 per gallon.
Orlando-area commuter operator SunRail says its February ridership was up 23% over January, Spectrum News reports, and year-to-date figures are up 40% from 2021.
Mostly, agencies are preparing for a possible increase. Some are publishing their own pitches for those who might be new to public transit, as in the case of LA Metro, while news organizations ranging from the Raleigh News & Observer to Sacramento’s KCRA-TV are offering their own how-to guides for transit use.
Buffalo’s Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which operates bus and light-rail service, is preparing for an increase based on a study in 2008, when gas prices last reached record highs. That research, by the Transportation Research Record, showed that public transit ridership increases by 1.2% for every 10% rise in gas prices, WGRZ-TV reports. But spokeswoman Helen Tederous said predicting the amount of a ridership increase is difficult at time when the agency’s ridership remains at 50% of pre-pandemic levels.
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, which also remains about 50% below pre-pandemic ridership, believes it will gain back some of those bus and train riders because of the gas price hikes. Chief Operating Officer Dr. Floun’say Caver told WJW-TV that he could foresee a “20 to 25% increase” — and that the agency itself is protected from the price increases because it has already purchased most of its fuel for this year and next.
— Trains News Wire will continue to watch and report on the impact of gas prices on rail ridership as trends develop.
Ridership is increasing because employers are starting to release themselves from their mask mandates.
There’s talk of a gas tax holiday (as if they haven’t had one for the last decade) how about a generous transit fare decrease to get more riders back. Also, how about a reduction in the speed limit back down to 55 mph it does save on gas, less people driving like they’re being chased by the police, plus try not putting the gas pedal through the floor when the light turns green would help too!
If more people are riding trains only because gas prices have been unnecessarily and/or artifically raised, then it is a bad thing.
If they were riding because the service was actually preferable, that would be a good thing.
Here we go again…