UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies

Amidst falling Bay Area ridership, transit trips in the region are becoming much more commute-focused. Ridership at peak hours has grown dramatically, especially into and out of downtown San Francisco, resulting in severe overcrowding on Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Researchers at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies examined recent Bay Area ridership trends for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in order to identify both possible causes of falling transit use as well as potential policy responses. The key dimensions of shifting Bay Area transit use are summarized below.