Research Triangle Park, N.C. – One year after TTA began tracking ridership and gas prices, more Triangle residents are taking the bus. Through April 2005, the use of public transportation and ridesharing options has been up significantly.

Since last spring:
            *Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) bus ridership has increased over 10% (1)
            *Capital Area Transit (CAT) bus ridership has increased nearly 5% (2)
            *Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) bus ridership has increased 6% (3)
            *Chapel Hill Transit (CHT)(weekday bus ridership has increased nearly 10% (4)
            *Vanpool ridership has increased over 9% (1)
            *Carpool matching inquiries have increased nearly six-fold (1)

There are a number of factors that have played into this ridership increase, including regional job growth, improved transit service and promotions. The analysis of data, conducted by TTA staff, for the period between January 2000 and April 2005, also  indicates that there is an important correlation between TTA ridership and gas prices.   John Tallmadge, director of Commuter Resources, said, “For every dime increase in the price at the pump, TTA has seen nearly 1400 additional riders the following month.”        (For the chart showing the TTA research, click here). (.pdf format)

People considering the switch to public transportation or ridesharing in a carpool or vanpool, now have an easier time finding out options that can work for them. The website for public transportation information in the Triangle, www.GoTriangle.org has been improved with easy links to the personalized transit trip planner, online ridematching, and a commuter cost calculator.

The trip planner provides door-to-door directions using bus services provided by TTA, CAT, DATA, Chapel Hill Transit, and the NC State University WolfLine.

The on-line ridematching service allows users to register securely to find other workers with similar commutes (starting points, workplaces, and departure times). Once registered, the user can look for matches instantly.

The commuter cost calculator provides the user an estimate of his or her monthly costs of driving to and from work, and compares them with the costs of carpooling, vanpooling, or riding the bus.

According to a new study for the National Retail Federation, 66.2% of consumers 145.3 million Americans, believe that fluctuating gas prices have impacted their spending habits, up from 56.8% in 2004. Despite a recent drop in gas prices, the report says, consumers continue to alter their spending to compensate for high numbers at the pump. Tracy Mullin, NRF President and CEO, said "While shoppers seem to be getting over the initial sticker shock, gas prices have taken a long-term toll on consumers, many of whom have had to adjust their spending to compensate for the increases.”

The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, reported 69.9% of consumers with household incomes under $50,000 say they have felt an impact from rising gas prices; 58.2% with household incomes over $50,000 have also been affected. "High gas prices have become a way of life for consumers, and they are adjusting as much as they can," said Phil Rist, VP/Strategy for BIGresearch.

TTA’s Tallmadge said, “We know that many people are frustrated with the high cost of gas, and are having to cut back on other expenses. We want them to know that there are less expensive options. With the savings from carpooling, vanpooling, or taking the bus, even just 3 days a week, they can spend more on vacations or hobbies, friends or family. In short, you can fuel your life, not your car.”

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park (RTP) and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle.

TTA plans to implement a 28-mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in late 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.

(1) Source: TTA
(2) Source: Capital Area Transit (CAT)
(3) Source: Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA)
(4) Source: Chapel Hill Transit (CHT)