Public transit ridership has had a slow recovery from COVID-19 — especially in rail service — but there are positive signs riders are returning, the head of the American Public Transportation Association said in Pittsburgh Monday.
But CEO Paul Skoutelas, opening the agency’s rail conference in Pittsburgh Monday and in an interview afterward, said ridership patterns are changing after the “devastating” effect of the pandemic. Across the country, agencies are seeing more ridership during the middle of the day and on weekends, trends to which agencies must adjust so they can continue to meet riders’ needs.
Overall, transit ridership dropped as much as 80% across the country after the pandemic began in early 2020, with an even larger drop on light rail systems that often serve an office worker clientele that has other personal transportation options. Recovery for all forms of transit is about 75%, but light rail has been slower to recover in many cities, Skoutelas said.
Locally, Pittsburgh Regional Transit has about 60% of its bus ridership back while light rail is about 46%.
“The industry trend is moving in a positive direction,” Skoutelas told more than 1,300 delegates at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “I believe it’s going to be an exciting, positive year.”
One reason for optimism, the former head of Port Authority said, is the large number of transportation projects completed across the country in the past year, including rail expansions in Boston, Denver and Los Angeles. Another is the $30 billion the Biden administration has committed to transit over five years through its economic stimulus program.
Skoutelas acknowledged all walks of society face challenges coming out of the pandemic. He believes transit will play a key role in helping cities to thrive again by connecting riders to jobs, services and activities that fit their new lifestyle.
“We all need to do what we can to change the narrative for public transit,” he said. “Truly, it’s the challenges that make us better. We must not only adapt to change, we have to lead the change.”
Skoutelas said he expects transit usage eventually to follow the European situation, where transit is used more for personal needs than for work. During a recent tour in Spain, he said, officials reported only 29% of transit trips involved work.
“It may not be the way it was before … but by and large rail traffic will come back. There’s no question the market is still there.”
The conference continues through Wednesday.
Ed covers transportation at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at eblazina@unionprogress.com.