As gasoline prices continue to increase, American will turn to public transportation in record numbers, a study released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) predicts.
The study, “Potential Impact of Gasoline Price Increases on U.S. Public Transportation Ridership, 2011-2012” reveals if regular gas prices reach $4 a gallon as many experts have forecasted, an additional 670 million passenger trips could be expected, resulting in more than 10.8 billion trips per year.
The analysis also finds that, if pump prices jump to $5 a gallon, an additional 1.5 billion passenger trips can be expected resulting in more than 11.6 billion trips per year. And if prices were to soar to $6 a gallon, expectations are an additional 2.7 billion passenger trips, resulting in more than 12.9 billion trips per year.
Already public transit systems across the U.S. are already seeing large ridership increases, some reaching double digits in the month of February.
In Orlando, LYNX reported an increase of 10.7 percent in January. In Tampa, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit saw an increase of 18 percent increase in January and a 19 percent increase in February.
Other areas that reported increases include, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority in Pompano Beach, Florida, which jumped by 10.6 percent; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority of Philadelphia, PA increased by 10 percent; The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority of Oakland, CA increased by 14 percent and Triangle Transit of Research Triangle Park, NC increased by 22.8 percent.
