Gasoline prices in the United States have been extremely volatile in recent years and rose to record high levels during the summer of 2008. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average U.S. gasoline price for the year 2008 was $3.26 a gallon, which was the second highest yearly average in history when adjusted for inflation. Transportation agencies reported changes in travel behavior as a result of the price spike, with transit systems experiencing record ridership and state departments of transportation reporting reductions in traffic volumes. This study examined the impact of changing gasoline prices on transit ridership in Washington State by measuring the price elasticity of demand of ridership with respect to gasoline price. Ordinary least-squares regression was used to model transit ridership for transit agencies in 11 counties in Washington State during 2004 to 2008. The price of gasoline had a statistically significant effect on transit ridership for seven systems studied, with elasticities ranging from 0.09 to 0.47. A panel data model was estimated with data from all 11 agencies to measure the overall impact of gasoline prices on transit ridership in the state. The elasticity from the panel data model was 0.17. Results indicated that transit ridership increased as gasoline prices increased during the study period. The findings were consistent with those from previous studies on the topic.
Impact of Gasoline Prices on Transit Ridership in Washington State
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board ; 2217 , 1 ; 11-18
2011-01-01
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Impact of Gasoline Prices on Transit Ridership in Washington State
Online Contents | 2011
|Understanding Links between Transit Ridership and Gasoline Prices
Transportation Research Record | 2008
|Impacts of Gasoline Prices on New Jersey Transit Ridership
Online Contents | 2010
|Impacts of Gasoline Prices on New Jersey Transit Ridership
Transportation Research Record | 2010
|Impact of Rising Fuel Prices on U.S. Transit Ridership
Online Contents | 2007
|