Analysis Highlights Causes of Bus Ridership Declines in D.C. Region

Faiz Siddiqui reports on initial findings from an analysis of Washington D.C.’s regional bus network that seeks to identify the reasons for declines in ridership.

The study, a joint effort between the Eno Center for Transportation and the Boston Consulting Group, finds that bus lanes have not been a priority in the metropolitan region and, as a result, bus speeds have decreased and led to $30 million of additional labor and fuel costs.

The analysis also provided detailed characteristics about Metrobus riders, who make up about three-quarters of the region’s bus riders. Almost half are low-income and travel during off-peak times, most live in the District, and 85 percent do not transfer to the rail system.

"[The project] will likely recommend a more regional governance structure and a clearer delineation of funding sources — rather than disparate jurisdictional bus subsidies covering routes in their municipalities," says Siddiqui.