America hasn’t exactly turned into a train-crazed utopia just yet (have you noticed?) but we’re getting there!
New data released by the American Public Transportation Association this week shows a 2.6 percent bump in transit use over last year.
“With seven consecutive quarters of ridership increases, it’s obvious that public demand for public transit is growing,” said APTA President and CEO Michael Melaniphy. “As Congress works to resolve our country’s deficit problem, it also needs to work to resolve the transportation deficit. Otherwise public transit and highway funding will be facing an annual $15 billion shortfall in the next 10 years.”
APTA broke its findings down by location and type of transportation, some of which were bigger winners than others. Heavy rail enjoyed a 3.6 percent increase in ridership.
Light rail increases (4.2 percent!) were due at least in part to system improvements and expansions.
Commuter rail saw a 2.4 percent increase in ridership.
And poor, wonderful, much-maligned buses got a 1.8 percent bump.
I still love you, buses!
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