Port Authority Ridership increased nearly 2% in 2018. (Pittsburgh, Houston: 2013, houses, employment)

[eschaton]

This came out a yesterday, but I didn't see it mentioned:

1. Overall trips in 2018 were 64.2 million - a 1.2 million increase from 2017 (up 1.95%). This is the first increase in ridership for two years, the highest overall since at least 2013, and contrasts with a nationwide decline of 1.75% over roughly the same period.

2. The percentage increase would likely have been even higher if it wasn't for the T, which was negatively impacted by the flooding which affected the Blue Line and the freight train derailment in August.

3. Overall growth in bus ridership was the fourth-highest of any city in the country (only Houston, Columbus, and Oakland were higher).

4. It's clear the Port Authority isn't sure why ridership increased substantially yet.

[_Buster]

Sounds like good news when other cities are declining. Also, Columbus' bus system is just a fraction of the size of Pittsburgh's, so it's really just Houston and Oakland that had similar ridership increase to Pgh's, in raw numbers instead of percent increase.

[bradjl2009]

That's great news. More taking transit is a win-win for everyone.

[Marv95]

That's what happens when you drop fares by eliminating zones. Now if only bus service to the employment centers outside of downtown was improved upon.

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by Marv95

That's what happens when you drop fares by eliminating zones. Now if only bus service to the employment centers outside of downtown was improved upon.

Which employment centers outside of downtown? Oakland?

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by xdv8

Which employment centers outside of downtown? Oakland?

I mean Oakland is a major employment center, and besides the 54 there aren't many routes that connect non-East End neighborhoods to it. Places like Brookline, Beechview, Brighton Heights, etc. would probably become much more desirable if it was possible for Oakland workers to live in those areas and only take ONE bus instead of needing to transfer from Downtown first.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I mean Oakland is a major employment center, and besides the 54 there aren't many routes that connect non-East End neighborhoods to it. Places like Brookline, Beechview, Brighton Heights, etc. would probably become much more desirable if it was possible for Oakland workers to live in those areas and only take ONE bus instead of needing to transfer from Downtown first.

Considering all the money going into the Downtown/Oakland BRT, this isn't likely to happen. The whole point of the system is to try and provide a Downtown/Oakland circulator which comes about as frequently as the P1, eliminating most of the inconvenience of the existing transfer system. Hell, they really want to eventually have all buses terminate in either Downtown or Oakland, but not both - although due to popular opposition this has been pushed back on a bit.

As an aside, the P1 is always, always jammed now at the end of the day. I mean, sometimes three or four P1's in a row pass by Steel Plaza without stopping because they've already taken on the maximum number of passengers. I have to wonder if the Port Authority is going to have to consider triple-length buses or something soon.

[AaronPGH]

PAT has really made a lot of ground up in modernization. From elimination of zones to ConnectCards, better way-finding and maps, and real-time GPS. The new leadership has done a great job maximizing the limited budgets they get, and it seems to be bearing fruit.

I was able to drop my car two year ago with the advent of GPS and Uber. Now, any time I am headed out the door I assess the options at that moment. I always check the bus app first to see if there's one coming in the next 5 minutes...if that's the case, I take the bus. I never used to bother with that option previously. Second is biking, if the weather is good. If it's raining and it's a short distance, I'll walk it with an umbrella. Worst case scenario, if the weather is ****, I'm going beyond walking distance, and there are no buses for 15 minutes, I'll grab a car.

It's been much easier than I thought it would be to live without a car because of this. I did place myself along a few major bus routes, so that certainly helps.

[Geeo]

I think one of the reasons for the increase in ridership is that the system is much easier to use now. With Connect Cards, you don't have to worry about carrying money and it's super-quick to board now. The apps that show the buses in real time on the route let you know exactly where it is at any given moment. They added or extended some popular routes to major destinations, and there are a couple newer crosstown routes that don't go downtown (Lawrenceville - Waterfront, South Side-Bakery Square). The busways, of course, are a godsend, and are a faster way than driving and eliminate that hassle.

In my part of town, the buses are crowded with all the young people that have moved here in the last few years. Many don't even own a car, and if they do, they certainly don't use it every day.

[Marv95]

Originally Posted by xdv8

Which employment centers outside of downtown? Oakland?

Towards the airport in Moon and Robinson for starters. Those warehouses, retail, small manufacturers and the corps out there off Campbells Run yet bus service there is abysmal. The 28x skips that area so what else you got? The 29 I guess?