Graph and download economic data for Public Transit Ridership (TRANSIT) from Jan 2000 to Apr 2025 about public, transportation, and USA.

In 2022, the percentage of workers in the U.S. who used public transportation to travel to and from work amounted to a scant *** percent, down from over five percent in the mid-2010s. The public transport share has, however, increased from 2021, when only *** percent of commuters travelled by public transport.

Employment statistics on the Public Transportation industry in United States

This dataset lists the number of public transit stops per United States ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA) based on data from the National Transit Map (NTM). Each observation represents the count and density of transit stops within a ZCTA, as voluntarily reported to NTM by one of 270 regional transit agencies choosing to participate between 2016 and 2018.A curated version of this data is available through ICPSR at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/ICPSR/studies/38605/versions/V1

United States - Public Transit Ridership was 616783.00000 Thous. of Unlinked Trips in January of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Public Transit Ridership reached a record high of 993437.00000 in May of 2007 and a record low of 171450.00000 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Public Transit Ridership - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Market Size statistics on the Public Transportation industry in the US

Over the past five years, public transportation services have faced significant fluctuations. The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, severely reducing ridership as lockdowns and business closures curtailed daily commuting. Government intervention played a critical role in maintaining and revitalizing public transit. The Biden administration's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed in 2021, earmarked $1.0 trillion for infrastructure and transportation initiatives over the next decade. Increased federal funding in 2023 helped offset previous declines in economic performance, which cut state budgets and pressured public transport. As the economy recovered, higher disposable income led some commuters to choose premium transport options like Uber and Lyft, particularly in cities with ride-sharing restrictions. Revenue has been declining by a CAGR of 2.5% over the past five years, and is expected to decrease by 2.0%, reaching $83.3 billion in 2024. In 2024, public transportation is poised to stabilize. Federal and state initiatives to overhaul safety and environmental standards will stay center stage. Notably, New York City's congestion pricing tax aims to alleviate city congestion by charging drivers fees ranging from $15 to $36, depending on vehicle size. The tax will direct approximately 80% of the generated revenue towards enhancing the NYC subway and bus network. Government investments in hybrid and all-electric buses gain momentum, aligning with broader goals to reduce carbon footprints and improve urban livability. Elevated crime levels in major cities like New York and Philadelphia remain a concern, prompting increased security measures to protect commuters and enhance public confidence in public transit. Consequently, profit for public transportation is expected to remain stagnant. Looking ahead, the public transportation sector will navigate a complex landscape shaped by urbanization, environmental imperatives and economic conditions. Urban populations in major cities are projected to rise, intensifying traffic volumes and making public transportation systems indispensable. Policymakers are expected to continue prioritizing the reduction of carbon emissions by transitioning to low-emission public transport vehicles bolstered by federal investments in renewable energy. As consumers become more financially aware of persistent inflation and high credit card debt, public transportation's affordability may attract budget-conscious riders, further boosting the industry. Industry revenue is set to expand by a CAGR of 2.1% to an estimated $92.5 billion through the end of 2029.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Private Transportation in U.S. City Average (CUUR0000SAT1) from Mar 1935 to May 2025 about transportation, urban, consumer, CPI, private, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

This dataset lists the number of public transit stops per United States census tract based on data from the National Transit Map (NTM). Each observation represents the count and density (per capita and square mile) of transit stops within a census tract, as voluntarily reported to NTM between 2016 and 2018 by one of 270 regional transit agencies choosing to participate.A curated version of this data is available through ICPSR at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/ICPSR/studies/38605/versions/V1

Government Transportation Financial Statistics is no longer being updated by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics as of June 2024! It is being replaced by our new product, Transportation Public Financial Statistics (TPFS) which provides more granularity by expanding the categories of revenues and expenditures. The new dataset can be found: https://data.bts.gov/Research-and-Statistics/Transportation-Public-Financial-Statistics-TPFS-/6aiz-ybqx/about_data Further information about the TPFS can be found at: https://www.bts.gov/tpfs The government plays an important role in the U.S. transportation system, as a provider of transportation infrastructure and as an administrator and regulator of the system. The government spends a large amount of funds on building, rehabilitating, maintaining, operating, and administering the infrastructure system. Government revenue generated from several sources including user fees, taxes from transportation and non-transportation-related activities, borrowing, and grants from federal, state, and local governments primarily supports these activities. Government Transportation Financial Statistics (GTFS) provides a set of maps, charts, and tables with information on transportation-related revenue and expenditures for all levels of government, including federal, state, and local, and for all modes of transportation. Related tables can be found in National Transportation Statistics, Section 3.D - Government Finance (https://www.bts.gov/topics/national-transportation-statistics). For further information, data definitions, and methodology, see https://www.bts.gov/gtfs

The National Transit Map - Agencies dataset was compiled on June 02, 2025 from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The National Transit Map (NTM) is a nationwide catalog of fixed-guideway and fixed-route transit service in America. It is compiled using General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) Schedule data. The GTFS Schedule documentation is available at, https://gtfs.org/schedule/. The NTM Agencies dataset represents the physical addresses of participating transit agencies. Regarding data coverage and licenses, starting in Report Year 2023, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has required National Transit Database (NTD) Reporters to submit General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data. Reporters will submit GTFS during their reporting period, which is determined by their fiscal year end date. All GTFS data submitted to the NTD will enter the public domain. Prior to the GTFS requirement, transit agencies voluntarily participated in the NTM and granted the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States (CC-BY-3.0) license. The CC-BY-3.0 license is available at, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/legalcode. A data dictionary, or other source of attribute information, is accessible at https://doi.org/10.21949/1529047

Version 2004 of the Fixed-Guideway Transit Network is a database of the nation's fixed-guideway routes. The data set covers systems in cities defined as FTA's universe of cities and includes heavy rail, light rail, monorail, cable car, inclined plane, and automated guideway.

© The University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research GIS Group This layer is sourced from maps.bts.dot.gov.

Version 2004 of the Fixed-Guideway Transit Network is a database of the nation's fixed-guideway transit systems (NTAD 2015). The data set covers systems in cities defined as FTA's universe of cities and includes heavy rail, light rail, monorail, cable car, inclined plane, and automated guideway.

© Developed by the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research GIS Group

Includes New York City MTA Subway, San Francisco BART Rail, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Bus and Rail

Number of Businesses statistics on the Public Transportation industry in the US

Graph and download economic data for Total Public Construction Spending: Transportation in the United States (MPCP09XXS) from Feb 2002 to May 2025 about public, transportation, expenditures, construction, and USA.

The IPCD, as of 2014, represents locations that share multiple mode transit choices, as single point.The IPCD data covers the following types of passenger transportation terminals: •Scheduled Airline Service Airports.•Intercity bus stations (includes stations served by regular scheduled intercity bus service such as Greyhound and Trailways, code sharing buses such as "Amtrak Thruway" feeder buses, supplemental buses that provide additional frequencies along rail routes, and airport bus services from locations that are outside of the airport Metropolitan Area.•Intercity and transit ferry terminals.•Light rail transit stations.•Heavy rail transit stations.•Passenger rail stations on the national rail network serving both commuter rail and intercity rail services.

© Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OSTR) / Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) This layer is sourced from maps.bts.dot.gov.

The IPCD in 2015 now also represents locations, that share multiple mode transit choices, as only a single point (NTAD 2015).The IPCD data covers the following types of passenger transportation terminals: •Scheduled Airline Service Airports.•Intercity bus stations (includes stations served by regular scheduled intercity bus service such as Greyhound and Trailways, code sharing buses such as "Amtrak Thruway" feeder buses, supplemental buses that provide additional frequencies along rail routes, and airport bus services from locations that are outside of the airport Metropolitan Area. • Intercity and transit ferry terminals. • Light rail transit stations. • Heavy rail transit stations. • Passenger rail stations on the national rail network serving both commuter rail and intercity rail services.

© Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (OST-R/BTS)

This layer is a component of Transit Agencies by Activity (VOMS).

Transit Agencies Mapped by Vehicles Operated at Maximum Service and National Transit Map tables derived from GTFS files

© Derald Dudley

This table contains data on the percent of residents aged 16 years and older mode of transportation to work for California, its regions, counties, cities/towns, and census tracts. Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census and American Community Survey. The table is part of a series of indicators in the Healthy Communities Data and Indicators Project of the Office of Health Equity. Commute trips to work represent 19% of travel miles in the United States. The predominant mode – the automobile - offers extraordinary personal mobility and independence, but it is also associated with health hazards, such as air pollution, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and sedentary lifestyles. Automobile commuting has been linked to stress-related health problems. Active modes of transport – bicycling and walking alone and in combination with public transit – offer opportunities for physical activity, which is associated with lowering rates of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, dementia and depression. Risk of injury and death in collisions are higher in urban areas with more concentrated vehicle and pedestrian activity. Bus and rail passengers have a lower risk of injury in collisions than motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Minority communities bear a disproportionate share of pedestrian-car fatalities; Native American male pedestrians experience four times the death rate Whites or Asian pedestrians, and African-Americans and Latinos experience twice the rate as Whites or Asians. More information about the data table and a data dictionary can be found in the About/Attachments section.

Public Transport Market Outlook

The global public transport market size was estimated at USD 200 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 350 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2024 to 2032. The increasing urbanization and the growing demand for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions are primary growth factors driving the market. As more people move towards urban centers, the need for reliable and extensive public transport systems becomes vital, promoting investments and developments in this sector.

One of the primary growth drivers of the public transport market is the increasing awareness and governmental policies emphasizing environmental sustainability. As emissions from personal vehicles continue to contribute significantly to urban pollution, public transport emerges as a green alternative. Governments worldwide are adopting policies and providing subsidies to promote the use of public transportation, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. Furthermore, advancements in technology, such as the integration of IoT, AI, and big data analytics, are enhancing operational efficiencies and passenger experiences, further encouraging public transport adoption.

The rising fuel prices and the economic feasibility of public transport over private vehicles also play a crucial role in the market's expansion. As fuel costs soar, maintaining private automobiles becomes financially burdensome for the average consumer. Public transport offers a cost-effective alternative, minimizing travel expenditure. Moreover, many urban areas are experiencing increased congestion, and public transport systems present a more viable solution for reducing traffic, thus saving time and improving quality of life for commuters. This economic advantage is further supported by the rising trend of shared mobility services, which integrate seamlessly with existing public transport modes.

Demographic shifts, particularly the aging population and the increasing number of working professionals, also fuel market demand. Older individuals often rely on public transport for accessibility reasons, while the working populace seeks convenient and time-saving travel options. Urban planners are increasingly considering these demographic factors in transport planning, leading to enhanced and expanded transit networks. Additionally, the shift towards smart cities is pushing the development of integrated public transport systems that are crucial for the seamless flow of urban life.

Regionally, the Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the public transport market due to rapid urbanization and economic growth in countries such as China and India. These nations are heavily investing in public transport infrastructure to support their burgeoning urban populations. Meanwhile, Europe and North America are witnessing significant technological advancements and policy initiatives aimed at modernizing existing public transport systems to make them more environment-friendly and efficient. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are also expected to see substantial growth, driven by infrastructure development and increased investments in public transport.

Mode of Transport Analysis

The mode of transport segment in the public transport market is crucial as it encompasses the various means through which passengers are transported, including buses, trains, trams, metros, and others. Buses, being the most accessible and prevalent form, dominate the market due to their flexibility and coverage. Buses are extensively used in both urban and rural areas, offering extensive routes and frequency. The affordability and government initiatives promoting bus usage for reducing urban congestion contribute significantly to this segment's growth. Moreover, technological advancements in bus systems, such as electric and hybrid models, further enhance their appeal.

Trains and metros are central to the public transport market, especially in densely populated urban areas. These modes provide fast, reliable, and high-capacity transit solutions, making them indispensable for daily commuters in metropolitan regions. Governments are investing heavily in expanding rail networks and modernizing existing infrastructure with state-of-the-art technologies to boost efficiency and safety. The development of high-speed rail networks, particularly in Asia and Europe, highlights the segment's importance in reducing travel times and enhancing regional connectivity.

Trams are gaining popularity in urban areas due to their environmental benefits and ability to integrate w

United States - Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Public Transportation in U.S. City Average was 122.21200 Index Dec 1999=100 in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Public Transportation in U.S. City Average reached a record high of 149.07900 in May of 2022 and a record low of 96.52500 in August of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Public Transportation in U.S. City Average - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.