Transit ridership jumped last year as road travel fell

An AP article examines the increase in transit ridership that has continued despite the drop in gas prices from their July high of $4.

• People made 10.7 billion trips on public transit in 2008, a 4% increase over 2007
• Over the same time, Americans drove 3.6% less on highways
• The current economy should be hurting ridership, but instead it is increasing

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Transit ridership jumped last year as road travel fell
Boston Globe/AP
March 9, 2009

WASHINGTON - Americans hopped on buses, subways, and commuter trains more last year amid record-high gas prices and drove less on the nation's highways, according to industry figures to be released today.

Analysts disagree on whether the number of riders - the most since 1956 - was boosted temporarily by the recession.

People made 10.7 billion trips on public transit in 2008, a 4 percent increase over 2007, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Over the same time, Americans drove 3.6 percent less on the nation's highways.

Gas prices peaked at more than $4 in July before falling, but ridership remained strong. In 1956, Americans made nearly 11 billion trips.

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