OPENING LINES WHY BUS SERVICE CUTS SHOULD BE THE LAST RESORT FOR TRANSIT AGENCIES Source: Americantownandcountry.org, Laramie Bowron, Editor, First Published July 18th, 2025 As transit agencies and municipal mobility planners deal with budget shortfalls and mounting fiscal pressures, the temptation to cut transit bus service can seem like an expedient solution. However, this approach is not only shortsighted but risks undermining the economic, social and environmental goals that public transit is meant to advance. A closer look at ridership trends, demographic shifts and the broader impacts of service reductions reveals why maintaining and even improving bus service levels should be a top priority in 2025. THE REAL COST OF SERVICE CUTS Recent warnings from major transit agencies underscore the dire consequences of slashing service. In Chicago, proposed cuts could eliminate up to 74 of 127 bus routes, end all weekend bus service on some lines and reduce paratransit by as much as 66%. Pittsburgh faces a 35% reduction in service and fare hikes exceeding 9% if new funding is not secured, with officials warning that “there is nothing left to cut from the budget but service.” In Metro Vancouver, halving bus service would leave more than half a million people without convenient access to transit, exacerbating congestion and stalling economic activity. These scenarios are not unique.Across North America, agencies are sounding the alarm: once service is cut, it can take a decade or more to rebuild ridership and restore lost routes. The impact is not limited to lower-income riders; it ripples through the entire economy, affecting employers, businesses and the region’s competitiveness. CHANGING RIDERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS The profile of the typical transit rider is evolving. While bus service has long been a lifeline for lower-income communities, recent surveys and ridership data show that a broader cross-section of the population is relying on transit. For instance, the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in San Jose, California, found through its onboard surveys that ridership is diversifying, with more young professionals, students and service-sector workers using buses.This shift reflects changing urban living patterns and a growing preference for sustainable mobility options. Moreover, agencies like Portland, Oregon’s TriMet and San Jose’s VTA have reported increases in bus ridership following targeted improvements in service reliability and frequency. These gains are especially notable given the challenges posed by the pandemic and changing commuting patterns. The lesson is clear: people respond positively to better service, and the benefits extend well beyond traditional demographics. IMPROVED SERVICE DRIVES RIDERSHIP Investing in service quality — not just new vehicles or flashy ribbon-cutting ceremonies — has proven to be the most effective way to grow ridership. While new buses and stations are important, they do not, on their own, attract new riders. What matters most is reliability: buses that arrive on time and at predictable intervals.Agencies that have focused on 13 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07
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