The Secrets of Transit Line Success

Payton Chung summarizes a new report from the Transportation Research Board that reveals the indicators of successful transit projects.

2 minute read

July 12, 2014, 5:00 AM PDT

By Helen Brown


Transit Ridership

Bridget Zawitoski / Shutterstock

Payton Chung reports on "Making Effective Fixed-Guideway Transit Investments: Indicators of Success," a Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) report for the Transportation Research Board by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. According to Chung, this "landmark report…identifies the factors that set successful transit investments apart from the rest." In his summary of the report, Chung notes that the study, which examined more than 140 elements of including location, demographic factors, and design of more than 55 rail and bus rapid transit systems, concluded that the secret to attracting high ridership is to "[serve] areas that are dense in both jobs and population and have expensive parking."

Per Chung, while the connection between high density jobs and population and transit is not new knowledge, the TCRP report's findings suggest "...access to these specific kinds of [high-wage] jobs, rather than to jobs in general, is a hallmark of transit-oriented metro areas...that perhaps easy transit access to high-wage jobs draws 'choice' riders out of cars and onto transit. Meanwhile, leisure jobs clustered around transit stations could be a proxy for '24-hour' mixed-use urban neighborhoods that draw transit riders throughout the day." Additionally, Chung notes that "the only design factor that seemed to have a significant effect on ridership was whether the route is grade-separated (in a tunnel or on a viaduct). In isolation, transit speed, frequency, or reliability did not have significant impacts, but the great advantage of grade-separated routes is that they can run quickly and reliably through high-density areas."

Chung adds, "The Berkeley researchers’ goal was to create an easy-to-use ridership forecasting model, built with data collected from finished projects across the country, that can help planners evaluate both individual transit routes and systemwide changes." The research team has provided a handy Excel file that can be used to predict riderships and cost estimates.

Thursday, July 10, 2014 in Streetsblog USA

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

White three-story brick single-room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California.

‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis

SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.

March 22, 2024 - Associated Press via Yahoo News

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

44 minutes ago - CBS News

Red public transit bus in Bangalore, India.

Indian States Give Women Free Bus Passes

The programs are part of an initiative aimed at helping more women join the workforce and improving access to basic needs.

1 hour ago - Next City

Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota skylinw with stone arched brige in foreground.

Study: How to Revitalize Downtown Minneapolis

A proposal calls for a reevaluation of the city’s skyways, a focus on street-facing businesses, and an improved public realm.

2 hours ago - Minneapolis Post

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.