Amtrak ridership rise a good sign for transportation future

[marmar]

from the Fresno Bee:



Amtrak ridership rise a good sign for transportation future


Amtrak ridership soared in the Valley during the summer, when gas prices hit record highs. Now the question is whether that's a one-shot thing, destined to fade as fuel prices fall, or does it represent a more fundamental change in transportation choices?

Ridership on the Valley trains, the San Joaquins, was up 32% in July, compared with July 2007. In all, nearly 1 million riders took the San Joaquins last year, part of the 5.5 million passengers statewide. The Valley route is the sixth-most heavily traveled rail corridor in the country.

Similar results were reported nationwide. Amtrak served a record 28.7 million riders in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, an increase of 11% over the previous year. National ridership has increased for six straight years.

It isn't just gasoline prices that persuade people to take the train. Increasing highway congestion and the rising cost and inconvenience of air travel also make train travel relatively less expensive and more comfortable.

That's why the switch to using passenger rail may be more permanent, and even just the beginning of a long-term trend. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/story/1002227.html

[ThomWV]

1. I have always been amazed by our lack of public transportation

I live far out in the country so this really doesn't apply to me much but when I go to places where a good public transportaton system exists it amazes me that they aren't everywhere. Look at the DC METRO, or the Bay area BART, or take a look at the system in Japan as examples. We've got all these wonderful railways being turned into walking trails and I think its simply a shame. I think every Interstate should have a monorail running right down the middle of the median strip.

[Le Taz Hot]

2. You know what would increase it even more?

If the god-blessed Amtrak San Joaquin went all the way to L.A. Right now you ride the train to Bakersfield, then you have to take a gas-guzzling, emissions-spewing slow bus to L.A. It's never made sense to me.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. Bush actually raised funding for it last month.

I was very surprised. Ridership is up across the country. I hope it keeps going up and rail service is expanded. There are people around here who would take it. It's a very relaxing way to travel.
Duckie

[rainbow4321]

4. Same thing has happened here in Dallas with mass trans

Our light rail and bus use stats went thru the roof when gas prices went up. There was an article not long ago that said even though prices have dropped, mass trans riders showed no sign of going back to their own cars, ridership levels remains where it was when gas was high.
And DART has done something right..they have never raised prices once before/during the increase in mass trans use that way you would think some places would. Apparently they have gotten some grant from the feds and they had done a lock in deal with fuel prices..so they were one of the very few mass trans systems around the country that didn't raise their prices when ridership increased.

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/aug/13/25th-anniversary-dart-receives-9-million-federal-g/

DART received a $9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration, which will go towards buying 33 new buses.
--------------------------------
I started riding in July to avoid paying $60/week in gas just to get to/from work. Even with the prices dropping I haven't thought once about driving again. Plus we only have one car and I let my daughter use it for school during the day...still I have MUCH less wear/tear on my car.

[juno jones]

5. There was an article in our town paper

about our local bus system. (Bellingham, WA) It had flourished with the bad times and had won a national award. Even with $2 gas, the numbers of transit riders have not droppped.

I took the bus to work instead of driving for 18 months and loved it, but currently have to drive about 2 miles as I work graveyard, and the system hasn't quite expanded to 24 hours in all locations yet.

IMO, On long trips I love Amtrak. I hate flying. It's simple, really.

edit to add: I got to meet a number of people on the bus. Including someone who was volunteering at the Whatcom County Dem Headquarters the week before the election. She sold me our Obama T-shirt.

[madrchsod]

6. long distance amtrak trains will never become what they could be

because they share the tracks with freight trains. there will be no dedicated long distant trackage built in the usa. city light rail will be built in the major urban areas but that the extent of rail building in the usa

[TankLV]

8. Only if WE lack the will to CHANGE the status quo. And WE can change it!

NO MORE BILLLIONS for the airlines - spend any future funds on IMPROVING RAIL - it's the only logical thing to do...

[TankLV]

7. Of ALL cities, Buffalo has the highest mass transit ridership in the entire NATION...

I'm proud of my former home town...

[Lyric]

9. Now if they could just work on the expense aspect of it.

Amtrak needs to be much cheaper, especially for long-distance travel that requires sleeping on the train for more than one night (thus necessitating a sleeping car option for anyone who, like me, cannot sleep sitting up.)