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Despite the recession, higher unemployment, lower gas prices, and declining state and local revenue, U.S. public transportation ridership was essentially flat during first-quarter 2009 compared with the same 2008 period. Agencies collectively posted 2.6 billion trips, a 1.2 percent decline compared with Q1 2008’s total, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Light-rail ridership increased 1.8 percent; commuter- and heavy-rail ridership decreased by 3.0 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.

For a ridership-data breakdown, follow this link.