RE: [CTPP] Reconciling Census Transit Commuters with Ridership S tatistics

Additional possible reasons for the APTA/FTA reported growth in total ridership vs. unchanged census count of transit commuters: 1) Because transit is losing mode share, one assumes the remaining users are more transit dependent than in 1990 and therefore more likely to use transit for ALL trips, not just work trips. 2) Aging of the population results in long-term riders continuing to ride, but no longer making work trips (retired). 3) ADA accessibility requirements have made transit more accessible to disabled persons, whose riding pattern may include a smaller than average proportion of work trips. 4) Most transit systems now use electronic fareboxes that improve passenger count reliability; fewer systems had these in 1990. Some undercounting of passengers may have occurred previously -- drivers had to punch mechanical counters, or even less reliable methods were used. Some of the reported growth in total ridership may result from more accurate passenger counts. -----Original Message----- From: ed christopher [mailto:edc@berwyned.com] Sent: Monday, July 08, 2002 1:33 PM Cc: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net Subject: Re: [CTPP] Reconciling Census Transit Commuters with Ridership Statistics As for Chucks comments I believe that he was actually searching to gain a better understanding into the trip purpose side of mode split issue. Is the the work trip declining in its mode share? The answer of course in not in any census data.