GOAL 17: Increase the accessibility and efficiency of existing public transportation and transit systems.
INDICATOR: Level of ridership for MARTA and local transit systems.
Why is this important?
Transit ridership statistics show how many local residents use public transportation instead of driving their own cars, trucks or SUVs. Transit ridership is directly related to accessibility, cost and convenience.
How are we doing?
MARTA, the region's largest public transit system, continues to suffer service cutbacks due primarily to lack of funding. As a result, average weekday ridership totaled 440,000 in 2004 - a decrease of 4.6 percent since 2003. Average weekday rail station entries (all MARTA) decreased 20 percent.
In addition to MARTA, the region now has four smaller local transit (bus) systems, plus one county-sponsored rideshare program. Of these, Clayton County's C-TRAN system lost 15.5 percent of its ridership between 2003 and 2004. Meanwhile, Cobb County's CCT system gained 9.5 percent, and the Gwinnett County Transit System (GCT) gained 21 percent. The newest system, the Xpress commuter service sponsored by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), began operations in June 2004 serving Coweta, Douglas, Forsyth, Rockdale and Henry counties.
Overall, 3.8 percent fewer regional residents used public transit in 2004 than in 2003.
Air Quality & Transportation
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