North Carolina Public Transportation Ridership on Rise – Systems Adjusting to Meet Rider Needs and Changes in Funding



North Carolina is growing. New residents are coming, and companies are seeing the many benefits of locating in our state. These factors, combined with others such as an aging population, are just some of many reasons why motorists are looking for other ways to get around besides driving their personal cars. One option more and more drivers are turning to is public transportation.

North Carolina’s 99 public transportation systems serving all 100 counties of the state have seen a steady increase in ridership during the last 10 years. During Fiscal Year 2013, (June 30, 2012 – July 1, 2013) more than 77 million trips were made on North Carolina public transportation systems, compared to more than 73 million in FY 2011. Ridership has increased steadily on urban-area transit systems in recent years. These fixed-route systems carried almost one million more passengers in FY 2013 than in FY 2009, an increase of 15 percent. Passengers per-hour and passengers per-mile also increased by 15 and 16 percent, respectively, while administrative and operating expenses increased by a modest two percent during this time period.

Although ridership has been increasing on urban systems, rural systems have seen a slight decrease in ridership – two percent since FY 2012. Despite this decrease, the increase in ridership on urban systems has been large enough to bring overall ridership statewide up. While there is no specific reason for the decrease in rural ridership, research from the N.C. State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education shows that it could potentially be due to reductions in funding, resulting in the elimination of some services among systems. Also, increases in Medicaid-funded trips on 34 percent of rural systems have made up for losses on the remaining majority of rural systems.

With most rural transit riders being dependent on public transportation, systems are looking at ways to maintain service despite reductions in funding. Several rural transit systems are shifting away from demand-response service, and are beginning to offer structured services, such as fixed routes, which are more cost effective and more efficient to operate than demand-response.

“On our deviated fixed routes we are able to more efficiently service a higher number of riders than on our more costly door-to-door routes,” said Kerr Area TransportationAuthority Executive Director Rob Brink.

In another effort to maintain services, rural systems are also beginning to utilize more federal funding sources in addition to traditional state funding.  Total federal funds have increased 67 percent since FY 2009, while state-funded section 5311 funds have increased 15 percent during the same time period.

“Our transit systems in North Carolina are continuing to grow their business by being creative in how they look for new resources and partners to fund new services,” said NCDOT Public Transportation Division Director Debbie Collins “This is vital to their ability to sustain existing service levels and continue to grow.”

Initiatives like these, along with others such as regionalization of rural transit systems, and continued planning work with local metropolitan planning organizations and rural planning organizations, will enable transit systems to continue to serve the needs of their riders and communities.

About N.C. Public Transportation
Public transportation systems provide a safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for residents who cannot or choose not to drive. Systems range from small rural systems to large urban systems, as well as the LYNX light rail in Charlotte and intercity bus routes. NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division also coordinates intercity bus transportation with Greyhound and Horizon Coach Lines, as well as vanpool service with systems in the urban areas of the state.

NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division works directly with these systems to foster the development of intercity, urban and rural public transportation in North Carolina. The division awards grant funds to local public transportation systems, enabling them to provide people in all 100 counties access to education, job opportunities and health care.

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