All articles tagged with #ridership
Four Dallas suburbs are considering leaving the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system due to dissatisfaction with service and funding issues, which could significantly impact regional mobility, especially for low-income and non-driving residents, amid ongoing debates about transit funding, service quality, and regional growth challenges.
Amtrak has achieved a record ridership of 32.8 million passengers in fiscal year 2024, marking a 15% increase from the previous year. The rail service aims to double its ridership to 66 million by 2040, supported by a $4.5 billion investment in infrastructure and fleet upgrades, and over $10 billion in federal grants. Upcoming projects include new trains, routes, and the replacement of the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel. Amtrak is also introducing more affordable ticket options and enhancing customer experiences with improved seating and dining services.
The Detroit People Mover will offer free rides in 2024 through a sponsored Zero Fare pilot program, aiming to increase ridership by at least 50%. The program will launch on January 2, 2024, and will be funded through sponsorships instead of collecting fares from riders. The current fare collection system, which only accepts coins, tokens, or magnetic-striped passes, is outdated and costly to maintain. If successful, the program may continue beyond 2024.
Amtrak exceeded expectations in Fiscal Year 2023 with ridership reaching over 28 million customers, driven by strong growth on the Northeast Corridor. The company resumed service on all routes and made significant infrastructure investments to support its goal of doubling ridership by 2040. Amtrak also advanced plans for future growth, including new state-supported services and partnerships with states and local communities. The company invested in new trains, enhanced stations, and improved accessibility, while prioritizing sustainability and safety. Amtrak's CEO expressed optimism for the future of passenger rail and the continued expansion of services.
Amtrak aims to double its ridership within 20 years and plans to use $22 billion from the infrastructure bill to achieve this goal. The company will focus on improving its busiest hubs, including Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, New York's Penn Station, Chicago's Union Station, and Baltimore's Penn Station. These upgrades will involve track improvements, increased accessibility, and the renovation of stations to enhance retail potential. Amtrak's spending will significantly increase, with annual capital investment projected to reach over $6.5 billion by 2025. However, delays may occur as the release of next-gen Acela train sets could be postponed due to defects found in a performance audit.
The MTA has launched a new ad campaign called "Courtesy Counts" to remind New York City subway riders about basic etiquette and common decency. The campaign aims to address issues such as leaving trash on the train, using headphones, allowing others to exit before boarding, and not blocking the doors. The initiative comes as the subway system experiences a rebound in ridership, with a new post-pandemic record of 4.2 million paid rides on September 20. The campaign will also extend to the region's commuter rail system.
Metro will launch its final planned service increase on Monday, offering the most train service in its history. The increase includes shorter wait times between trains on the Red, Blue, Silver, Green, and Yellow lines during peak travel times. This marks the 11th service increase since last summer as Metro rebounds from the pandemic. While bus ridership is approaching pre-pandemic levels, rail ridership remains about 45% lower than in 2019. Future service increases will be based on ridership demand, and Metro will monitor trends to assess the need for adjustments.
Starting September 11, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will implement a new schedule with more frequent train service, aiming to provide a more reliable experience for riders. The changes include 20-minute wait times on all trains, more predictable departure and arrival times, and increased train frequency on busy lines and routes. BART has seen an uptick in ridership, but it is still below pre-pandemic levels. The new schedule is made possible by the availability and reliability of newer trains. However, reduced service on some lines and to certain cities is expected. BART is also exploring long-term funding solutions to sustain its operations.
BART experienced its second-highest ridership since the pandemic began, with nearly 30,000 Oakland A's fans participating in a "reverse boycott" and K-pop group Twice performing at the Oakland Arena. The transit agency has been struggling with low ridership and is planning to implement a significant fare increase. However, more days like Tuesday could help secure BART's future.
A new poll conducted by the Bay Area Council suggests that BART should hire more sworn police officers and focus on keeping trains clean to boost ridership. The poll found that 73% of respondents feel more comfortable riding BART when a uniformed police officer is present, and almost 80% said BART should act more aggressively in ejecting people who violate the agency's passenger code of conduct. The Bay Area Council is among the groups vying to secure a $5 billion temporary bailout for BART and other Bay Area transit agencies.
A survey conducted by the Bay Area Council shows that safety concerns are the main reason for low ridership numbers on BART, with 45% of people choosing not to ride due to safety concerns. The survey also revealed that BART is facing financial issues that could threaten the entire system. Despite changes to the police system and increased patrols, people still do not feel safe on BART. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to the decline in ridership, with many people working from home.
A new survey conducted by the Bay Area Council revealed that safety and security concerns are the main reasons for low ridership on BART, with only 17% of respondents feeling safe on the trains and 16% describing the transit system as clean. The survey found that riders want more uniformed police on trains and in stations, improved fare gates, and ejection of rule breakers. BART is working to address these concerns by adding more officers and doubling cleaning efforts. The Bay Area Council believes that restoring rider confidence in BART is critical for the entire Bay Area.
As part of a new MTA plan to increase ridership, station agents are leaving their token booths to interact with straphangers and offer support on platforms and mezzanines. This marks the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that agents can interact with customers outside the booths. The initiative is not system-wide, but the agency hopes the new underground amiability, combined with an influx of cops working overtime in the system to deter crime, will get the system back to its pre-pandemic weekday ridership of 5.5 million straphangers a day, up from its current 3.9 million passengers.
BART is increasing its police presence on train cars by more than double to address riders' safety concerns and quality of life issues during operating hours. The system had just 10 officers working per shift, but now there will be anywhere between eight and 18 more officers on patrol per shift, most of whom are being pulled from vehicle patrols. BART has also hired more cleaners, increased the number of times train cars are cleaned per day, and boosted the number of crews on overnight deep cleaning.