Date of Graduation
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Civil Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Mitra, Suman
Committee Member
Sasidharan, Lekshmi
Second Committee Member
Hernandez, Sarah
Keywords
transit trip characteristics, transit user demographics, public transit, travel patterns
Abstract
This study examines changes in transit trip characteristics and transit user demographics over two decades using data from the 2001, 2009, 2017, and 2022 National Household Travel Surveys (NHTS). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze temporal shifts in public transit travel patterns, and a binary logit model was utilized to determine the factors that influence transit use.. Results from the descriptive analysis show an overall decline in ridership, accompanied by increases in average trip distance and duration. Work-related transit trips rebounded in 2022, whereas school and medical trips continued to decline. Findings from the binary logit model indicate that the effects of age, race, employment, and urban residence weakened in 2022, while vehicle availability and access to rail transit remained consistent predictors of transit use across survey years. These findings can support the development of more targeted strategies that address the changing needs of different groups of transit riders.
Citation
Pokharel, s. (2025). Two Decades of Change: An analysis of U.S. Public Transit Use from 2001-2022.. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/6047
