USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Transit Profile

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Transit Profile

Excel | CSV

Financial 1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 P1999
Passenger operating revenues ($ millions)                    
Passenger faresm 1,335 1,639 2,556 5,891 6,756 6,801 7,416 7,546 R7,970 8,282
Motor bus N N N 2,967 3,250 3,287 3,515 3,558 R3,991 4,175
Heavy rail N N N 1,741 1,976 2,018 2,322 2,351 2,297 2,323
Light rail N N N 83 135 127 144 139 150 164
Trolley bus N N N 46 55 54 55 57 55 60
Demand responsive N N N 41 171 146 157 170 R142 159
Ferry boata N N N 56 41 60 54 51 R41 48
Commuter rail N N N 952 1,083 1,078 1,146 1,178 1,255 1,309
Otherb N N N 26 45 46 24 42 R38 46
Other operating revenuey 72 68 248 895 2,271 2,812 2,928 3,308 R3,685 3,648
Total operating revenues 1,407 1,707 2,805 6,786 9,027 9,613 10,345 10,854 R11,654 11,930
Operating assistanced                    
State and local N N 2,611 8,297 8,026 7,811 8,210 8,014 R8,656 9,418
Federal N N 1,093 970 916 817 596 647 R751 872
Total operating assistance N N 3,705 9,267 8,941 8,628 8,807 8,661 R9,408 10,290
Total revenues 1,407 1,707 6,510 16,053 17,968 18,241 19,151 19,515 R21,062 22,220
Operating expenses ($ millions)                    
Motor busk N N N 8,903 10,144 10,321 10,575 10,944 R11,429 11,714
Heavy rail N N N 3,825 3,786 3,523 3,402 3,474 3,530 3,693
Light rail N N N 237 413 376 442 473 R500 546
Trolley bus N N N 109 133 139 135 140 147 167
Demand responsive N N N 518 943 1,000 1,187 1,285 R1,405 1,419
Ferry boata N N N 171 200 210 183 221 R214 238
Commuter rail N N N 1,939 2,228 2,211 2,294 2,278 R2,361 2,575
Otherb N N N 41 73 67 124 122 R154 160
Total operating expensese N N 6,247 15,742 17,920 17,849 18,341 18,936 R19,739 20,512
Depreciation and amortizationl N N 278 1,593 2,769 2,601 2,885 3,106 R3,435 3,692
Other reconciling items N N 186 644 964 1,091 1,034 1,117 R1,145 1,333
Total expenses 1,377 1,996 6,711 17,979 21,653 21,540 22,260 23,159 R24,318 25,538
Average passenger revenue per passenger-mile ($)                    
Motor busj N N N 0.14 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.18 R0.20 0.20
Heavy rail N N N 0.15 0.19 0.19 0.20 0.20 0.19 0.18
Light rail N N N 0.15 0.18 0.15 0.15 0.13 0.13 0.14
Trolley bus N N N 0.24 0.29 0.29 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.32
Demand responsive N N N 0.10 0.30 0.29 0.24 0.23 R0.19 0.20
Ferry boata N N N 0.20 0.14 0.23 0.21 0.17 R0.14 0.16
Commuter rail N N N 0.14 0.14 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.14 0.15
Otherb N N N 0.21 0.23 0.17 0.07 0.11 0.09 0.10
All modes N N N 0.14 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18
Average passenger fare, per unlinked trip ($)                    
Motor busn N N N 0.52 0.62 0.66 0.70 0.70 R0.74 0.74
Heavy rail N N N 0.74 0.90 0.99 1.08 0.97 0.96 0.92
Light rail N N N 0.47 0.66 0.50 0.55 0.53 R0.54 0.56
Trolley bus N N N 0.36 0.47 0.45 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.50
Demand responsive N N N 0.60 2.04 2.26 2.21 1.83 R1.49 1.59
Ferry boata N N N 1.11 0.87 1.31 1.12 0.99 R0.80 0.91
Commuter rail N N N 2.90 3.19 3.13 3.24 3.30 R3.29 3.31
Otherb N N N 0.90 1.28 1.57 1.33 0.66 R1.02 0.76
All modes 0.14 0.22 0.30 0.67 0.85 0.87 0.93 0.89 R0.91 0.90

Inventory 1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 P1999
Number of systems                    
Motor buso 1,236 1,075 1,022 2,685 2,250 2,250 2,250 2,250 2,262 2,262
Heavy rail 31 15 11 12 14 14 14 14 14 14
Light rail ~ ~ 9 17 22 22 22 22 23 24
Trolley bus 19 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Demand responsive N N N 3,193 5,214 5,214 5,214 5,214 5,254 5,252
Ferry boata N N 16 27 25 25 25 25 28 30
Commuter rail N N 18 14 16 16 16 18 18 20
Otherb N N 5 35 69 69 69 70 72 81
Totalf 1,286 1,096 1,055 5,078 5,973 5,973 5,973 5,975 6,000 6,000
Number of vehicles                    
Motor busp 49,600 49,700 59,411 58,714 68,123 67,107 71,678 72,770 R72,142 74,228
Heavy rail 9,010 9,286 9,641 10,419 10,138 10,157 10,201 10,242 10,301 10,306
Light rail 2,856 1,262 1,013 913 1,054 999 1,140 1,229 R1,220 1,297
Trolley bus 3,826 1,050 823 832 877 885 871 859 880 859
Demand responsive N N N 16,471 28,729 29,352 30,804 32,509 R29,646 31,884
Ferry boata N N N 108 110 110 109 134 R113 112
Commuter rail N N 4,500 4,415 4,517 4,565 4,665 4,943 R4,963 4,883
Otherb N N N 1,089 2,395 2,699 2,894 3,674 R4,590 4,947
Total 65,292 61,298 75,388 92,961 115,943 115,874 122,362 126,360 R123,855 128,516
Number of employeesg                    
Motor busq 121,300 101,598 N 162,189 174,373 181,973 190,152 196,861 R198,644 204,179
Heavy rail 35,100 36,442 N 46,102 51,062 45,644 45,793 45,935 R45,163 46,311
Light rail + + N 4,066 5,140 4,935 5,728 5,940 R6,024 6,058
Trolley bus + + N 1,925 1,848 1,871 2,084 2,037 R2,053 2,140
Demand responsive N N N 22,740 35,450 39,882 44,667 44,029 R48,406 51,186
Ferry boata N N N 2,813 2,764 2,697 2,830 3,166 R3,894 4,024
Commuter rail N N N 21,443 22,596 22,320 22,604 21,651 R22,488 22,896
Otherb N N N 898 854 1,169 1,086 1,140 R1,080 1,091
Total 156,400 138,040 189,300 262,176 294,087 300,491 314,944 320,759 R327,752 337,885

Performance 1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 P1999
Vehicle-miles (millions)                    
Motor busr 1,576 1,409 1,677 2,130 2,162 2,184 2,221 2,245 R2,175 2,276
Heavy rail 391 407 385 537 532 537 543 558 566 578
Light rail 75 34 18 24 34 35 38 41 R44 49
Trolley bus 101 33 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 14
Demand responsive N N N 306 464 507 548 585 R671 718
Ferry boata N N 2 2 2 3 3 3 R3 3
Commuter rail N N 179 213 231 238 242 251 R260 266
Otherb N N 13 16 30 33 43 50 R63 69
Total 2,143 1,883 2,287 3,242 3,468 3,550 3,650 3,746 R3,794 3,972
Unlinked passenger trips (millions)                    
Motor buss N 5,034 5,837 5,677 4,871 4,848 4,887 5,013 R5,399 5,648
Heavy rail N 1,881 2,108 2,346 2,169 2,033 2,157 2,430 2,393 2,521
Light rail N 124 133 175 284 251 261 262 R276 292
Trolley bus N 182 142 126 118 119 117 121 117 120
Demand responsive N N N 68 R88 88 93 99 95 100
Ferry boata N N 63 50 47 47 48 51 R52 53
Commuter rail N N 280 328 339 344 352 357 R381 396
Otherb N N 4 29 33 33 33 41 R37 38
Total N 7,332 8,567 8,799 7,949 7,763 7,948 8,374 R8,750 9,168
Passenger-miles (millions)                    
Motor busz N N 21,790 20,981 18,832 18,818 19,096 19,604 R20,360 21,205
Heavy rail N N 10,558 11,475 10,668 10,559 11,530 12,056 12,284 12,902
Light rail N N 381 571 833 860 957 1,035 R1,128 1,206
Trolley bus N N 219 193 187 187 184 189 182 186
Demand responsive N N N 431 577 607 656 754 R735 813
Ferry boata N N N 286 260 260 256 294 R294 310
Commuter rail N N 6,516 7,082 7,996 8,244 8,351 8,038 R8,704 8,766
Otherb N N 390 124 232 273 348 369 R441 469
Total N N 39,854 41,143 39,585 39,808 41,378 42,339 R44,128 45,857
Average trip length (miles)                    
Motor bust N N N N 4 4 4 4 4 4
Heavy rail N N N N 5 5 5 5 5 5
Light rail N N N N 4 3 4 4 4 4
Trolley bus N N N N 2 2 2 2 2 2
Demand responsive N N N N 7 8 9 10 R8 8
Ferry boata N N N N 6 6 5 6 6 6
Commuter rail N N N N 24 24 24 23 23 22
Vanpool N N N N 32 35 34 33 36 34
Otherc N N N N 1 1 1 1 1 1
All modes N N N N 5 5 5 5 5 5
Average vehicle speed (miles per hour)                    
Motor busu N N N N 13 13 13 13 13 13
Heavy rail N N N N 21 21 21 21 21 21
Light rail N N N N 14 14 14 16 16 15
Trolley bus N N N N 8 8 8 8 8 7
Demand responsive N N N N 14 15 15 15 17 15
Ferry boata N N N N 8 6 7 7 8 8
Commuter rail N N N N 34 34 33 34 32 33
Vanpool N N N N 33 35 37 36 37 38
Otherc N N N N 6 6 7 7 7 7
All modes N N N N 15 15 15 15 15 15
Energy consumption, diesel (million gallons)                    
Motor busv N N N 563 565 564 578 598 R607 618
Heavy rail NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA NA 
Light rail NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA NA 
Trolley bus NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA NA 
Demand responsive N N N 15 30 29 31 32 R38 43
Ferry boata N N N 20 21 22 22 24 R25 29
Commuter rail N N N 53 62 63 62 63 R69 73
Otherb N N N <1 < 1 < 1 < 1 < 1 <1 <1
Total v208 v271 v431 651 678 678 693 717 R740 763
Energy Consumption, other (million gallons)                    
Gasoline and other nondiesel fuelsh,w 192 68 11 33 60 61 61 59 R53 49
Compressed natural gas U U U U 5 11 15 24 R37 44
Total 192 69 11 34 65 71 76 83 R90 93
Energy consumption (million kWh)                    
Motor bus NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA NA 
Heavy railx N N N 3,284 3,431 3,401 3,332 3,253 3,280 3,385
Light rail N N N 239 282 288 321 361 R381 416
Trolley bus N N N 69 103 100 69 78 74 75
Demand responsive NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA NA 
Ferry boata NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA  NA NA 
Commuter rail N N N 1,226 1,244 1,253 1,255 1,270 R1,299 1,322
Otherb N N N 19 21 26 30 26 R39 39
Total x2,908 x2,561 x2,446 4,837 5,081 5,068 5,007 4,988 R5,073 5,237

Safety 1960 1970 1980 1990 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 P1999
Fatalities, all modes N N N 339 320 274 264 275 286 299
Injured persons, all modes N N N 54,556 58,193 57,196 55,288 56,132 55,990 55,325
Incidents, all modes N N N 90,163 70,693 62,471 59,392 61,561 60,094 58,703

KEY: ~ = included in heavy rail figure; + = included in motor bus figure; N = data do not exist; NA = not applicable; P = preliminary; R = revised.

a Excludes international, rural, rural interstate, island and urban park ferries.

b Includes cable car, inclined plane, aerial tramway, monorail, vanpool, and automated guideway.

c Includes cable car, inclined plane, aerial tramway, monorail, and automated guideway.

d Beginning in 1992, local operating assistance and other revenue declined by about $500 million due to change in accounting procedures at the New York City Transit Authority. Beginning in 1992, total operating expense declined by about $400 million due to a change in accounting procedures at the New York City Transit Authority.

e Included in other.

f The total figure represents the number of transit agencies. It is not the sum of all modes since many agencies operate more than one mode.

g Based on employee equivalents of 2,080 hours equals one employee; beginning in 1993, based on number of actual employees.

h Liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, propane, and other nondiesel fuels, except compressed natural gas.

SOURCES: Unless otherwise noted, refer to chapter tables for sources.

i U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration.Safety Management Information Statistics (SAMIS), (Washington, DC: Annual reports).

j American Public Transit Association, 2001 Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: 2001), tables 18, 30, and 84, and similar tables for prior years.

k Ibid., 2001 edition tables 25 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.

l Ibid., 2001 edition table 23, and similar tables in earlier years.

m Ibid., 2001 edition tables 18 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.

n Ibid., 2001 edition table 20, and similar tables in earlier years.

o Ibid., 2001 edition table 1, and similar tables in earlier years.

p Ibid., 2001 edition tables 46 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.

q Ibid., 2001 edition tables 62 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.

r Ibid., 2001 edition tables 42 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.

s Ibid., 2001 edition tables 26 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.

t Ibid., 2001 edition table 39, and similar tables in earlier years.

u Ibid., 2001 edition table 44, and similar tables in earlier years.

v Ibid., 2001 edition table 65, and similar tables in earlier years.

w Ibid., 2001 edition table 66, and similar tables in earlier years.

x Ibid., 2001 edition table 67, and similar tables in earlier years.

y Ibid., 2001 edition table 17, and similar tables in earlier years.

z Ibid., 2001 edition tables 30 and 84, and similar tables in earlier years.