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Despite high unemployment, low gas prices and a weak economy, trips taken on U.S. public transportation systems in 2009 surpassed 10 billion for the fourth-straight year, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). However, the total of 10.2 billion trips declined 3.8 percent compared with trips taken in 2008, when a 52-year modern ridership record was set. Rail and bus service cutbacks resulting from lower state and local funding contributed to the ridership drop, APTA said.
 
“Considering that nearly 60 percent of riders take public transportation to commute to and from work, it is not surprising that ridership declined in light of the many Americans who lost their jobs last year,” said APTA President William Millar in a prepared statement.

Light-rail ridership — which includes modern streetcars, trolleys and heritage trolleys — decreased 0.4 percent year over year. Among nine cities that registered gains, two posted double-digit increases: Baltimore, 11.5 percent, and Oceanside, Calif., 10.7 percent. In addition ridership rose 9.3 percent in Memphis, Tenn.; 9.2 percent in Seattle; 9.1 percent in Philadelphia; 2.2 percent in Tampa, Fla.; 1.2 percent in San Francisco; 0.6 percent in Portland, Ore.; and 0.1 percent in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, heavy-rail ridership (including subways and elevated trains) decreased 2.6 percent compared with 2008’s total trips. Only four cities registered gains: Los Angeles, 3.9 percent; Chicago, 2.2 percent; Philadelphia, 1.5 percent; and Washington, D.C., 0.1 percent.

In the commuter-rail sector, ridership dropped 5 percent year over year. The few gainers include a line extension in Albuquerque, N.M. (up 99.5 percent), and systems in D.C. (up 1.9 percent) and Baltimore (up 0.1 percent).
 
Overall, public transportation ridership is up 31 percent since 1995, more than double the population growth rate (15 percent) and 21 percent higher than the growth rate for vehicle miles traveled on the nation's highways during the same period, APTA said.