Stevens Institute Technical Memorandum

To:
Prof. Wakeman
From: Ricardo Vital Barroso
Date: March 17, 2014
Subject:

Use of Public Transit in U.S. Reaches Highest Level Since 1956

The American Public Transportation Association released a report with new statistics on
the use of public transportation in the United States. These statistics revealed that the
use of public transit in the United States had reached the highest level since 1956. John
Hurdle wrote the article to The New York Times at March 10, 2014.
More Americans used buses, trains and subways in 2013 than in 2008, when gas prices
rose to $4 to $5 a gallon. Formerly, the conventional wisdom was that the public transit
use rises when the gas prices grow. Now the gas is averaging under $4 a gallon and
people are riding transit in record numbers. It suggests that other factors are stimulating
the use of public transportation.
The public transportation becomes increasingly important as the economy grows,
because more people are using the systems to get to an increasing number of jobs. A
similar effect is seen in the small cities, where transport investments make the
unemployment rates drop, as the employment grows because people can get there.
The traffic and parking conditions in the big cities stimulates the use of public transport
as well.
The environmental and health concerns are also playing an important role in the
increased use of public transit, since a lot of people would prefer to drive less and rely
more on walking, cycling and public transit. It is happening a fundamental shift in how
people are moving about their communities.
It is important to analyze these changes and to forecast and encourage the use of
public transport. The increasing ridership in public transit helps to solve the traffic and
garage issues in the big cities. Therefore, the economy growth has to be supported by
an improved transport system that can meet all the needs of the community.

I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor System.

Ricardo Vital Barroso