Effects of Rising Gas Prices on Bus Ridership
for Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems
Jeremy Mattson
Small Urban and Rural Transit Center
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
North Dakota State University
June 2008
Acknowledgement
This research was sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration, United States Department of
Transportation, and conducted by the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center within the Upper Great Plains
Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University. Contributing to the research and preparation of
this document was Jeremy Mattson.
The guidance of Jill Hough of the Center and Henry Nejako, FTA Project Manager for the project, are
also acknowledged.
DISCLAIMER
The contents presented in this report are the sole responsibility of the Small Urban & Rural Transit
Center, the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute and the author.
North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Vietnam Era
Veterans status, sexual orientation, marital status or public assistance status. Direct inquiries to the Executive Director and Chief Diversity
Officer, 202 Old Main, (701) 231-7708.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Recent Trends in Transit Ridership and Gas Prices ......................................................................... 3
3. Factors Affecting Ridership ............................................................................................................... 11
4. Short-Run versus Long-Run Effects ................................................................................................. 13
5. Previous Research on the Effect of Gas Pric