6 Increase carpools, transit, bicycling and walking
Increase the number and share of trips taken using carpools, transit, bicycling and walking
6.1 Travel by mode
From 2010 to 2019, the total number of trips made in the region increased by 29%, from 10.0 M trips per day in 2010 to 12.8 M trips per day in 2019. This was consistent with a 10% increase in population (see Figure 14.3), as well as the economic recovery after the 2008 recession. However, it is also important to note that changes to survey methodology in 2019 likely led to a greater ability to capture trips.
From 2019 to 2021, survey methodology stayed the same, but the total number of trips made in the region decreased by 14% – almost completely erasing the gains from the last 9 years. The COVID-19 pandemic was having effects on the total amount of travel people did in 2021. The total number of trips made each day declined from 13 million to 11 million. The decline in trips made was steepest for trips made by single-occupancy vehicle (a 11% decrease).
Because the number of walk trips remained roughly constant while the number of drive trips fell, the mode share for walking increased.
Non-single occupancy vehicle (SOV) travel remains highest in urban center communities, but gains in walk mode share were observed in all community types except the emerging suburban edge from 2010 to 2021.
Changes to modal participation rates were driven largely by a decrease in days with travel, which was accompanied by an increase in trip replacement behaviors.
As the total number of trips each day declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, trip replacement behavior increased. The share of adults who stayed home on a typical weekday increased from 13% in 2019 and to 22% in 2021, a 70% increase. The share who worked from home 6 hours or more on a typical weekday increased from 11% to 29%, a 164% increase. Adults receiving deliveries on a typical weekday also increased over this period, with package deliveries up 84% and food deliveries up 304%.
6.2 Park and Ride Use
Roughly 13% of the 28,250 park and ride spaces across the region were utilized, according to the 2022 annual survey. While this represents a 315% increase from the 2020 survey, it is sharply down from 2019 when roughly 57% of spaces across the region were used. Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected travel demand, resulting in a major decline in transit ridership, particularly for commuter express service. Express service comprises a significant portion of transit service associated with Park & Ride facilities. As of 2022, express service remained suspended at some facilities.
The 2022 Annual Regional Park & Ride System Report provides a summary of current trends in the Twin Cities regional park and ride system. A survey of the system was conducted in September and October 2022, which included a parked vehicle count with license plate data collection and bike count at all park and ride facilities.
Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected travel demand, resulting in a major decline in transit ridership, particularly for commuter express service. Express service comprises a significant portion of transit service associated with Park & Ride facilities. At the time of the 2022 survey, express service remained suspended at some facilities. Facilities where commuter express service had been suspended at the time of the survey were excluded. As a result, the survey included 74 Park & Ride facilities with a capacity of 28,249 parking spaces and excluded 29 facilities with an additional 4,429 parking spaces where service was suspended, and Park & Ride use was not anticipated (Hinklin 2023). Historic Park & Ride use can be seen in Figure 6.6.
In addition to Park & Ride facilities, there were 44 active Park & Pool facilities. Park & Pool facilities are designated parking areas that provide individuals a gathering point from which they can carpool to a common destination, whereas Park & Ride facilities are defined as parking facilities that are served by transit (i.e. they have bus or rail service).
6.3 Transit Ridership
Total transit ridership decreased steadily between 2015 and 2019 from 95.5 million trips to 87.4 million trips, roughly a 1.8% decrease annually. Ridership then decreased dramatically in 2020 with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Total ridership in 2021 across the region was 36.9 million trips, or roughly 42% of 2019 levels.
There are currently six modes of public transit service in the Twin Cities region: light rail, commuter rail, bus rapid transit, core local bus routes, dial-a-ride1, and van pool. The majority of transit trips in the region are on buses; between 73% of trips in 2015 and 65% in 2021. In general, the share of trips on rail increased over the same period from 24% in 2015 and 29% in 2021. Dial-a-ride usage, while a small portion of total trips, stayed relatively consistent compared with the other modes over the same period, from 3% in 2015 and 6% in 2021. This resulted in its share of regional trips increasing in 2020 and 2021 when other modes lost more ridership due to the pandemic.
SouthWest Transit began providing microtransit services through SW Prime in 2016 and other agencies have also been adding microtransit in recent years. Trips made on these services are included under the dial-a-ride category.
Dial-a-ride includes microtransit services, like SW Prime and Metro Transit micro, and demand-response services like Metro Mobility, a shared ride public transportation service for certified riders who are unable to use regular fixed-route buses due to a disability or health condition↩︎