Quality of Life Indicators

mobility & convenience data

bus ridership
transportation mode split -- updated 10/20/08

bus ridership

Reducing congestion is an enormous task and requires innovative response. Citifare and Citilift provide an invaluable service to many residents and visitors in our region, especially the elderly, students and those with disabilities. Since so many trips are work related, the bus system is also critical to our economy.

Citilift trips continue to increase, with a slight decline in 2004. Citifare trips peaked in 2001—almost getting to the level of the previous peak in 1993. Public transportation is often the only option for low-income workers to keep jobs and get to services or appointments. It is an important part of the transportation mix to help improve our air quality. Compared to cities out size, Citifare ranks second in per capita riders (we have 27 per capita) and ranks third in cost per vehicle.

transportation mode split -- updated 10/20/08

The 2030 Regional Transportation Plan has the following mode split goal: Draft 2030 Regional Transportation Plan

non-auto modal split will be 3% by 2012; 4% by 2020; and 6% by 2030.

According to the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey from 2004 to 2007, there was a 2.6% reduction in the number of car, truck, or van drivers who reported driving alone. However, at the same time, the number who reported carpooling decreased 1.4%, and the number reporting using public transportation reduced 0.4%.  In the future, it would be interesting to identify the percentage of residents who live within 1/4 mile of an RTC public transportation bus stop who ride the bus to work.  Over 77% of Washoe County workers 16 years and older drove to work alone in 2007; 4% worked at home.

In TMT’s December 2007 community survey of Washoe County residents, 14% responded being dissatisfied vs. 65.2% satisfied with their access to reliable transportation; however, 19.8% responded being dissatisfied vs. 55.2% satisfied with their access to affordable transportation.  When asked what barriers prevent them from using the public transportation system, 25.8% reported convenience/proximity of bus stops, followed by 6.2% knowledge of bus routes, 3% no service/access, 1.8% safety, 1.6% time, 1.6% health, 1% money/cost, and 0.4% don’t like; while 51.8% reported no need for public transportation.