Nearly 2.6 billion trips were taken on U.S. public transportation in the first quarter of 2015, according to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This ridership is slightly less than the 2014 ridership with a decrease of less than one percent (0.7%).
In the 2015 first quarter, eight out of 15 heavy rail (metros and elevated trains) systems reported ridership increases as heavy rail ridership increased by 0.6 percent nationwide. Nationally, commuter rail ridership increased by 0.6 percent in the first three months of 2015 with 15 of 28 commuter rail systems reporting ridership increases. Two commuter rail systems in the following cities saw double-digit increases in the first quarter: Seattle, WA-Sound Transit (17.4%) and Austin, TX (11.0%).
Nationally, light rail (modern streetcars, streetcars, and heritage trolleys) ridership decreased by 1.0 percent in the first quarter of 2015. Thirteen of 28 light rail systems reported ridership increases.
“On a national level, public transit ridership was basically flat for the first quarter of 2015, although increases were seen on heavy rail (metros) and commuter rail. A very cold and snowy winter and lower gas prices impacted public transportation use. The winter was colder than the one in 2014 and in New England the snowfall amounts reached historic proportions,” APTA President and CEO Michael Melaniphy said.
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