Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit
Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2004.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2005
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16620 |
| _version_ | 1811093641790226432 |
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| author | Cohen, Alexander Nobler, 1979- |
| author2 | Joseph Ferreira, Jr. |
| author_facet | Joseph Ferreira, Jr. Cohen, Alexander Nobler, 1979- |
| author_sort | Cohen, Alexander Nobler, 1979- |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2004. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:48:20Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/16620 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:48:20Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/166202019-04-10T12:38:53Z Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit Cohen, Alexander Nobler, 1979- Joseph Ferreira, Jr. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. Urban Studies and Planning. Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2004. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-201). This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. For public transportation agencies to attract new riders in an automobile-dominated environment, niche markets must be targeted. The downtown journey to work is already recognized as a successful niche for transit. This thesis seeks to identify non-work travel markets with strong ridership potential. Nationwide data sources indicate that about half of all transit trips in the largest US cities are non-work trips, and that non-work travel has contributed to transit ridership growth in 13 of 20 large US cities. Based on these findings, St. Louis and Chicago are selected as cases for further analysis. St. Louis is the successful case, in which non-work travel contributed to overall ridership growth in the 1990's. Chicago is the baseline case, in which overall ridership declined in the 1990's, with no evidence of growth in non-work ridership. Detailed case studies of St. Louis and Chicago are conducted. First, an overview is presented, providing a description of transit routes; a profile of transit riders; and an understanding of recent ridership changes. Next, non-work ridership markets are identified, based on original analysis of travel survey data and off-peak ridership data. Finally, the characteristics of those markets are reviewed, based on secondary sources, press articles, and existing market research. This is done in order to evaluate the benefits of providing transit service to each market, and the effectiveness of current transit service to each market. Five non-work travel markets are identified in the case studies as strong sources of ridership. (cont.) These markets are: tourists; large events; shopping; younger adults without children, living in urban areas; and people who prefer not to own cars. To pursue non-work ridership growth, transit agencies must be proactive about improving service to meet the unique needs of these markets. Doing so can yield a variety of social, political, and economic benefits for the transit agency, transit riders, and the general public. In conclusion, recommendations are offered for effective transit service to each non-work travel market. General recommendations are offered, as well as specific applications to the Chicago Transit Authority and to Tren Urbano in San Juan, Puerto Rico. by Alexander Nobler Cohen. M.C.P. 2005-05-17T14:41:48Z 2005-05-17T14:41:48Z 2004 2004 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16620 55695399 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 201 leaves 1154535 bytes 1154302 bytes application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Urban Studies and Planning. Cohen, Alexander Nobler, 1979- Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| title | Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| title_full | Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| title_fullStr | Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| title_short | Public transportation is not going to work : non-work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| title_sort | public transportation is not going to work non work travel markets for the future of mass transit |
| topic | Urban Studies and Planning. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16620 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cohenalexandernobler1979 publictransportationisnotgoingtoworknonworktravelmarketsforthefutureofmasstransit |