A comparative assessment of the factors associated with station-level streetcar versus light rail transit ridership in the United States

Abstract

The proliferation of streetcar projects in US cities is one of the most significant transportation developments of recent years, yet little is known about the factors that contribute to streetcar ridership or whether these factors differ from those related to light rail transit use. This study uses multivariate models to examine differences in the factors related to average weekday station boardings on a set of US streetcar and light rail systems. While there are some similarities with respect to population levels and proximity to special generators for ridership on each mode, the results also point to important differences in the role that service characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and land use factors have on station-level ridership. The set of factors associated with light rail boardings suggest light rail’s use by a more utilitarian rider market, while those factors associated with modern streetcars suggest greater use by individuals trying to reach tourism and special activity centre-related destinations. These findings suggest that the modes are not substitutes for one another and that cities should carefully consider the decision to select one mode or the other for implementation.