Gas Prices Surge, Transit Ridership Rises
SkimNews Take
Rising gas prices reveal how inelastic demand for transportation is for many commuters, forcing a shift to public transit as the only viable alternative.
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- Gasoline price nationally rose above $4.50 per gallon, with California averaging $6.15 per gallon, after Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted oil shipments.
- San Diego Metropolitan Transit System logged a 6.5% year‑over‑year ridership jump in March, which officials attribute to higher fuel costs.
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency hit its highest ridership since the pandemic in March, after receiving a state emergency loan in February.
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority reported a ridership rise, and Valley Metro in Texas also noted higher rider numbers as gasoline prices surged.
- Hiroyuki Iseki’s study of 10 U.S. cities (2002‑2011) found a 10% gas price increase (around $3 per gallon) boosted light‑rail ridership by 1.2% and bus ridership by 0.8%.
Why it matters: Low‑income commuters gain a cheaper alternative as gasoline tops $6 a gallon, while transit agencies capture a 6.5% ridership boost that can help offset looming budget deficits.
