PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERSHIP ANALYSIS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This study investigates the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on public transport ridership in Baltimore and nine other U.S. cities similar to Baltimore, in terms of population and service area, during the first five months of 2020. The analysis is based on ridership numbers, vehicle revenue hours, and vehicles operated in maximum service. A compliance analysis was done between 2020 and 2019, as well as a monthly analysis of 2020 by mode and type of services. In comparison to 2019, the ridership decreases from March, the start of the pandemic, while all ten cities experienced the most decrease in ridership in April.