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Transit ridership slumps in some cities

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Transit ridership slumps in some cities
Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, October 21, 2019 3:33 PM
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Posted by Overmod on Monday, October 21, 2019 4:05 PM

I hope that crack about politicians 'making it tougher to drive a car in California' is unintentional humor.

I find it almost pathetic that SANDAG would 'gin up a huge, basically impractical proposal for "commuter rail" lines all over their little acre, without in the least suggesting relocation of the LOSSAN corridor route through the bottlenecks we've so often noted.  

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Posted by York1 on Monday, October 21, 2019 5:46 PM

"Many regions have blamed their transit woes on the economic rebound from the 2008 global financial crash"

 

 

So, if we could just have another economic crash, we could get increased transit use!

York1 John       

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, October 21, 2019 10:16 PM

Maybe a good idea might be to find out why some systems have increased ridership and why they have increased ridership.

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, October 21, 2019 10:42 PM

MTA Ridership Increases Across Subways, Buses, LIRR and Metro-North as
> On-Time Performance Continues Upward Trajectory
>
> Subway Weekday On-Time Performance Continues to Improve, Up Nearly 20%
> Compared to September of 2018;
> Weekday Major Incidents Decreased 29%, to Lowest Number Since Record Keeping
> Began in 2015

> EDITORS: This version updates to correct figures in the subheadlines and
> fourth paragraph under New York City Transit.
>
> The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced robust
> ridership increases on subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North
> Railroad, coinciding with improvements in performance at all agencies.
> Subway average weekday ridership of 5.77 million in September was up 4.5%
> over the prior year, and local bus ridership of 2.25 million was 1.5% over
> the previous year. Long Island Rail Road ridership increased 2.0% in
> September, boosting year-to-date ridership to 2.4% increase and putting the
> railroad on pace to set another modern-day record.  Metro-North Railroad’s
> ridership increased 1.0% in September and has risen 0.6% year-to-date.
> Traffic on MTA Bridges and Tunnels of 29.4 million in August was 0.6% higher
> than the prior year.

> The subway system is carrying nearly 250,000 more trips each weekday than it
> was a year earlier, while buses are carrying 34,000 more trips per average
> weekday. The MTA’s commuter railroads together have carried nearly 2 million
> more people in 2019 through Sept. 30 than during the same period a year
> prior.

> “These numbers are the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and
> dedication,” said MTA Chairman Patrick J. Foye. “The MTA’s top priority is
> increasing the reliability of the system and our workforce has been focused
> on identifying and fixing track defects, fixing signals and switches, and
> overhauling train cars and buses at a faster rate than at any time in
> memory. We're also rethinking how we communicate with our customers – and as
> a result of all of these improvements it’s clear New Yorkers are taking
> notice.”

> New York City Transit

> Weekday subway on-time performance was 82.7% in September – the fourth month
> in a row it’s been above 80% in five years. The SAP, launched by Governor
> Andrew M. Cuomo and then-MTA Chairman Joe Lhota, has provided a surge of
> additional union personnel, outside contractors, and new tools and methods
> for the maintaining and improving the system.

> Overall, subway performance continued its steady improvement in September
> 2019 across a host of categories. Major incidents have declined to the
> lowest number since this record has been kept, while on-time performance has
> continued to improve and customer-centric performance numbers are also
> pointing higher as well. The Save Safe Seconds Initiative and Train Speed
> and Safety Task Force are also working on improving running times throughout
> the system.

> “Once again, I am immensely proud of my brilliant team for relentlessly
> focusing on the basics and working tirelessly to achieve performance gains
> for our customers,” said Andy Byford, New York City Transit President.
> “Together, the work of the Save Safe Seconds campaign and the assistance we
> got from the Subway Action Plan have helped us achieve performance numbers
> unseen in some time and we look forward to improving our numbers even more
> in the months ahead.”

> Weekday major incidents decreased nearly 28.9% from September 2018, dropping
> from 45 to a record-low of 32 in September 2019. Weekday on-time performance
> (OTP) for September was approximately 82.7%, up from 69.4% in the same month
> last year. Seven non-shuttle lines achieved figures in excess of 80% and the
> CBTC-enabled 7 line experienced a 96% on time performance rate.

> Improvements were also realized in many of NYC Transit’s customer-focused
> metrics, including Service Delivered and Customer Journey Time Performance
> improved to 84.7%, up from 80.1% a year ago. Meanwhile, customer
> commendation figures are up 12%.

> A contributing factor to the reduction in delays has been the significant
> progress made in reducing track debris fires, which are down considerably
> since NYCT focused on this problem with new equipment in 2017. This has
> included clearing debris at an unprecedented rate using new platform-based
> mobile vacs, and vacuum trains that move around the system picking up trash.
> Year to date, track fires are down nearly 31% from the previous 12 months,
> from 956 to 703.

> Long Island Rail Road

> LIRR’s year-to-date on-time performance of 92.6% through Sept. 30 is 2.4
> percentage points higher than it was over the same time in 2018.  The LIRR
> has scheduled 1.3% more trains in 2019 through Sept. 30 than it had over
> that timeframe in 2018, yet experienced a 0.4 percentage point increase in
> trips completed, to 99.4%. Trains operating with fewer cars than their
> normal length plunged 23.6% and trains’ mechanical reliability increased
> 7.4%, with trains traveling 193,667 miles between experiencing a mechanical
> failure as of Aug. 31. Track circuit failures in 2019, have plunged to 42
> through Sept. 30, down by a third from 64 during the prior year.

> “This is a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the Long
> Island Rail Road, who through the LIRR Forward program are taking on every
> challenge among those aspects of service that we can control, so that we’re
> more prepared to respond to those things we can’t control,” said LIRR
> President Phil Eng. “We remain focused on balancing state of good repair and
> an unprecedented amount of capital work to expand and modernize our railroad
> that will provide a better customer experience for this generation, and for
> generations to come.”

> Metro-North Railroad

> Metro-North’s year-to-date on-time performance of 94.3% through Sept. 30 is
> 3.7 percentage points higher than it was over the same time in 2018.
> Metro-North has scheduled 142 more trains in 2019 through Sept. 30 than it
> had over that timeframe in 2018, yet experienced a 0.3 percentage point
> increase in trips completed, to 99.8%. The percentage of trains operating at
> their full length this year has increased 0.7 percentage points East of
> Hudson through Sept. 30, to 99.4%, while the improvement West of Hudson was
> even more pronounced, rising 1.2 percentage points to 98.9%. Trains’
> mechanical reliability surged 63%, with trains traveling 244,074 miles
> between experiencing a mechanical failure, up from 149,683 a year prior.
> Delays related to switch and signal problems have plunged to 741 through
> Sept. 30, down by more than half from 1,800 experienced during the prior
> year.

> “Metro-North’s Way Ahead program is providing a road map for the railroad’s
> future, where we concentrate on increasing train service safety and
> reliability,” said Catherine Rinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad.
> “These statistics come roughly after our first year of fulfilling the Way
> Ahead plan, and all signs point to even more improvement going forward. I
> thank the hard work and dedication of the entire Metro-North workforce for
> bringing these results.”

> MTA Bridges and Tunnels

> At MTA Bridges and Tunnels, as traffic volumes increased 0.6% E-ZPass usage
> reached 94.4%, an increase of half a percentage point over the year prior.
>
>

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Posted by Atlantic and Hibernia on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 11:46 AM

 

"Maybe a good idea might be to find out why some systems have increased ridership and why they have increased ridership."

 

Are you suggesting that someone, ummm....you mean...like...you know....think?

 
Kevin

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Posted by JPS1 on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 6:42 PM

daveklepper
 Maybe a good idea might be to find out why some systems have increased ridership and why they have increased ridership. 

From 2016 through 2018 annual ridership on DART’s buses fell 10.4 percent.  Week day ridership dropped 12.7 percent.  Part of the reason may be attributable to a 2.6 percent reduction in the number of bus routes, although most of the route reductions were “on call routes”. 
 
Annual ridership on the light rail system fell 2.6 percent.  Weekday ridership decline by approximately 3 percent.  The number of riders on the Blue Line increased 11.3 percent; ridership on the Red Line dropped 3.4 percent.  Ridership on the Greenline increased by 8.8 percent while the Orange line saw no statistically significant change in its ridership between 2016 and 2018. 
 
The number of annual riders on the Trinity Railway Express declined 4.1 percent between 2016 and 2018.  Weekday ridership dropped 5.4 percent, but weekend ridership increased 8.1 percent. 
 
To understand the reasons for the changes in DART’s ridership, one would need to do a deep dive in the agency’s data.  Some back of the envelop factors probably include the relatively low cost of gasoline, fare adjustments, on-time-performance, better roadways, etc. 
 
Dallas is one of the largest car centric cities in the nation.  The overwhelming majority of people that can afford to drive do so.  With the exception of a few “suits” during the morning and evening rush hours, many if not most of the people that use public transit in Dallas don’t have a good alternative. 
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Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 11:32 AM

Dallas area transit is dwarfed by that in places like NY,  Chicago, Philadelphia  and Boston. 

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Posted by JPS1 on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 1:30 PM

charlie hebdo
 Dallas area transit is dwarfed by that in places like NY,  Chicago, Philadelphia  and Boston. 

According to the introductory article, which also ran in the Los Angeles Times, transit ridership has fallen off in most if not every market with the exception of Seattle. 

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 1:59 PM

So did you read the detailed information Dave K posted? 

Metra (Chicago suburban commuter rail)  is down also. 

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Posted by JPS1 on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 3:24 PM

charlie hebdo
 So did you read the detailed information Dave K posted?  Metra (Chicago suburban commuter rail)  is down also. 

No.  As a rule I don't wade through an article that has been dragged in from another source.  If the presenter cannot summarize the data, I am not likely to read it.

My memory of the article, which I am not going to quote, is that ridership is down on most if not every transit system.  That is what I said in my post, I believe.  Saying most if not every transit system gives me some wiggle room to allow for exceptions. 

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 4:06 PM

No,  you didn't even read the opening words.  Had you done so,  you would see it was a factual article with data on the MTA. 

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Posted by JPS1 on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 4:14 PM

charlie hebdo

No,  you didn't even read the opening words.  Had you done so,  you would see it was a factual article with data on the MTA. 

Yep!  That is what I said.  I did not read Mr. Keppler's posting.  When he summarizes data, I may pay attention to what he says. 
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Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 7:29 PM

My oh my,  aren't we entitled!!!  

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Posted by daveklepper on Saturday, October 26, 2019 1:06 PM

JPST   Sorry if the detailed description of how the New York City rail network increased ridership doesn't interest you.  More than a data summary is needed to explain how.  But others are interested, and they may be more important and certainly better informed than you.

Having written that, I also have to point out that the New York MTA often does send me messages that cannot be directly transposed to this thread without the right portion off the screen.  And we have experienced that.  And unless I spend far too much time correcting the mess (like two or three hours), I can only use a method, forwarding and then transposing, that allows the materiali to fit the windows, but is neither esthetically pleasing nor makes for easy reading.  So his frustration has some of my understanding

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Posted by daveklepper on Saturday, October 26, 2019 1:19 PM

The "L" Line Sandy repair reconstruction is a terrific exception to the above compleint.  It is easy to copy and post and preserves esthetics and reasdibility in the process.  Whoever designed it should do all the MTA's Internet publicity.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, October 28, 2019 10:00 PM

In Chicago,  uber and lyft maybe be partly responsible for decreased ridership on the CTA. 

https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/10/28/20936904/uber-lyft-chicago-congestion-cta-transportation

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Posted by JPS1 on Monday, October 28, 2019 10:21 PM

daveklepper

JPST   Sorry if the detailed description of how the New York City rail network increased ridership doesn't interest you.  More than a data summary is needed to explain how.  

I held several senior accounting and audit management positions in a Fortune 200 Corporation. 

I was required to summarize complex data in a one page memo for  executive review.  Had I sent the CEO a lengthy article, especially one that was poorly formatted, I would have been shown the door.  And it would not have been the one to the executive washroom. 

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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:14 AM

And you were well paid for your work.

A different standard applies.

And you can always use the URL.

And I did put in the minimum amount of time to have it fit the windows.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 7:58 AM

JPS1

 

 
daveklepper

JPST   Sorry if the detailed description of how the New York City rail network increased ridership doesn't interest you.  More than a data summary is needed to explain how.  

 

I held several senior accounting and audit management positions in a Fortune 200 Corporation. 

I was required to summarize complex data in a one page memo for  executive review.  Had I sent the CEO a lengthy article, especially one that was poorly formatted, I would have been shown the door.  And it would not have been the one to the executive washroom. 

 

I think we all can remember that resume pearl.  After all,  you state that in every third post. 

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Posted by JPS1 on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 10:35 AM

charlie hebdo
 I think we all can remember that resume pearl.  After all,  you state that in every third post. 

Counting does not seem to be your strong suit.  If you don't like my posts, don't read them.  Save your personnel comments for someone that cares.  I don't!
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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 10:37 AM

JPST:  If you had forwarded the Authority's transmittal, and I felt an executive summary was important for this Forum, I would read what you got from the Authority, and write the summary myself.  But you are a professional at that sort of thing, and while I have done some important editing, I have never been asked (until you asked) to write a summary of someone else's presentation.  Apparently, you have done so.

Can you do this:

 

Maybe my contribiution of time to Kalmbach forums are better spent at this sort of thing?

 

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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 10:41 AM

deleted

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 4:55 PM

JPS1

 

 
charlie hebdo
 I think we all can remember that resume pearl.  After all,  you state that in every third post. 

 

Counting does not seem to be your strong suit.  If you don't like my posts, don't read them.  Save your personnel comments for someone that cares.  I don't!
 

Q.E.D.!!!

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, November 3, 2019 5:30 PM

I just blundered into this video which might explain why San Diego's transit ridership is going down.

Before you watch, remember I'm just the messenger.  I'm neither for nor against the videographers conclusions.  I'm neutral.  So don't come after me personally if there's something in there you don't like.  I won't respond. The videographer does  bring up some things no-one else has mentioned on this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJcT3JbrDRw 

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, November 7, 2019 6:16 PM

Flintlock76
I just blundered into this video which might explain why San Diego's transit ridership is going down.

Before you watch, remember I'm just the messenger.  I'm neither for nor against the videographers conclusions.  I'm neutral.  So don't come after me personally if there's something in there you don't like.  I won't respond. The videographer does  bring up some things no-one else has mentioned on this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJcT3JbrDRw 

All persuasions have axe's to sharpen.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, November 8, 2019 3:17 AM

Flintlock76

I just blundered into this video which might explain why San Diego's transit ridership is going down.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJcT3JbrDRw 

 

Oh for goodness sakes.  San  Diego transit ridership up 6+%.  Where in the world did you get such mis information ?

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/San-Diego-MTS-trolley-drives-ridership-spike--59036  

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, November 8, 2019 2:18 PM

JPS1

 

 
charlie hebdo
 So did you read the detailed information Dave K posted?  Metra (Chicago suburban commuter rail)  is down also. 

 

No.  As a rule I don't wade through an article that has been dragged in from another source.  If the presenter cannot summarize the data, I am not likely to read it.

My memory of the article, which I am not going to quote, is that ridership is down on most if not every transit system.  That is what I said in my post, I believe.  Saying most if not every transit system gives me some wiggle room to allow for exceptions. 

 

Wow, it took about two minutes to cut, paste and reformat the relevant data from Dave's post. Given that NYC is by far the largest transit area, the fact that they had increases is worth investigating.

"Subway average weekday ridership of 5.77 million in September was up 4.5% over the prior year, and local bus ridership of 2.25 million was 1.5% over the previous year.

Long Island Rail Road ridership increased 2.0% in September, boosting year-to-date ridership to 2.4% increase and putting the railroad on pace to set another modern-day record. 

Metro-North Railroad’s ridership increased 1.0% in September and has risen 0.6% year-to-date."

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Posted by JPS1 on Friday, November 8, 2019 3:48 PM

charlie hebdo
 JPS1 charlie hebdo  So did you read the detailed information Dave K posted?  Metra (Chicago suburban commuter rail)  is down also. 

No.  As a rule I don't wade through an article that has been dragged in from another source.  If the presenter cannot summarize the data, I am not likely to read it.

My memory of the article, which I am not going to quote, is that ridership is down on most if not every transit system.  That is what I said in my post, I believe.  Saying most if not every transit system gives me some wiggle room to allow for exceptions.  

Wow, it took about two minutes to cut, paste and reformat the relevant data from Dave's post.  

If and when I feel the need to seek your advice, I'll let you know.  Shocking as it may seem, I am not one of your adoring students.  

I don't care what you think about my style. I recommend you stick to the subject matter and turn off the stated or implied personal attacks. 

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, November 8, 2019 6:10 PM

I don't have any problem with knowing whom I am addressing. FYI, my students were not captives. Attendance was neither taken nor mandatory.  They had freedom to choose.

Style? I couldn't care one jot how you write or dress. And unlike your post to Dave, there was no personal attack, just facts.

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