PEAK-PERIOD VEHICLE OCCUPANCY STATISTICS

FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN RAPID BUS AND RAPID RAIL SERVICES

Passengers Per Vehicle and Passengers Per Meter of Vehicle Length

publictransit.us Monograph 02-01 Final Report

Compiled by Leroy W. Demery, Jr. • Updated April 18, 2005

Copyright 2002–2005, Leroy W. Demery, Jr

Revised: October 25, 2002

Rochester Subway data added: April 18, 2005

HOV and Busway Services

Note : It is very important to distinguish between 1.) counts of actual passenger volumes, and 2.) flow rates, which are determined by counting passenger volumes during some other interval (generally the busiest five, fifteen or twenty minutes), then scaling up to an hourly rate. Such flow rates will substantially exceed the maximum volume that may actually be observed during the busiest 60-minute interval. Statistics in this section which appear to be derived from flow rates, rather than actual observations or counts during a 60-minute interval, are marked “ Q .”

FACILITY

DATE

MAXIMUM PEAK VOLUME (1-hr)

VEHICLE OCCUPANCY

Pass/Veh

Pass/Meter of Vehicle Length

Atlanta

Peachtree St (reserved bus lane)

1964 (ca.)

3,015

45

3.7

 

1995 (post-)

2,800

42

3.5

Baltimore

Baltimore St (mixed traffic, no parking)

1964 (ca.)

4,387

58

4.8

shapeimage_3.pngBoston

Southeast Expressway

1971

2,454

38

3.1

 

1977

2,124

39

3.2

Chicago

N. Michigan Av (mixed traf, no parking)

1964 (ca.)

4,240

24

2.0

 

1972-76

* (11,400)

50

(4.1)

 

1995 (post-)

3,600

32

2.7

         

State St (transit mall)

1972-76

** (9,000)

50

(4.1)

         

Washington Blvd (reserved bus lane)

1964 (ca.)

3,235

49

4.0

         

N. Lakeshore Dr (expressway)

1964 (ca.)

5,595

57

4.7

 

1995 (post-)

4,000

50

4.1

* 5-minute flow scaled up to hourly rate.                                                ** 15-minute flow scaled up to hourly rate.

Cleveland

Euclid Av (mixed traffic, no parking)

1964 (ca.)

4,316

48

3.9

Dallas

Commerce St (mixed traffic, no parking)

1964 (ca.)

3,196

47

3.9

Denver

Broadway (reserved bus lane)

1995 (post-)

2,325

26

2.2

Houston

I-10 (Katy) Transitway

1985

1,160

33

2.7

 

1990

1,820

40

3.2

         

I-45N (North) Transitway

1985

2,620

37

3.0

 

1990

2,810

37

3.0

 

1995 (post-)

2,800

37

3.0

         

I-45S (Gulf) Transitway

1995 (post-)

840

32

2.7

         

US 290 (Northwest) Transitway

1995 (post-)

600

35

2.9

Los Angeles

San Bernardino Freeway

1964

701

41

3.4

El Monte Transitway

1973

1,017

23

1.9

 

1977

2,708

33

2.7

 

1985

3,190

46

3.8

 

1990

2,750

39

3.2

Cal State L.A, a.m.

1993.2

2,600

35

2.9

 

1995 (post-)

2,750

39

3.2

         

Golden State Freeway

1964

787

46

3.8

         

Harbor Freeway

1964

1,102

50

4.1

 

1972-76

1,050

46

3.8

Harbor Transitway, Slauson, p.m.

2000.2

300

22

1.1

         

Hollywood Freeway

1964

1,671

51

4.2

 

1972-76

1,775

49

4.0

         

Santa Ana Freeway

1964

616

39

3.2

         

Santa Monica Freeway

1964

537

49

4.0

Miami

Interstate-95

1976

314

31

2.5

 

1977

352

35

2.9

         

South Dade Busway, Dadeland So, a.m.

2000.8

(est) 600

35

(bus) 2.9

     

23

(van) 3.8

       

(wtd avg) 3.1

Minneapolis

Interstate-394

1990

455

35

2.9

New York

Ramp to Port Authority Bus Terminal

1962 (ca.)

23,187

45

3.7

Lincoln Tunnel (I-495) "XBL" bus lane

1971

26,902

44

3.6

 

1972-76

32,560

44

3.6

 

1990

34,685

48

3.9

 

1991

31,925

41

3.4

 

1995 (post-)

32,600

44

3.6

a.m.

1998.10.21

32,531

32

2.6

         

Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel contra-flow lane

1995 (post-)

7,500

50

4.2

a.m.

1998.10.21

5,888

31

2.6

         

Fulton St, Brooklyn (mixd traffic, no parking)

1962 (ca.)

3,150

42

3.4

         

Hillside Ave, Queens (mixd traffic, no parking)

1962 (ca.)

10,251

68

5.6

 

1972-76

8,500

50

4.1

         

Long Island Expressway contra-flow lane

1995 (post-)

7,840

48

4.0

         

Madison Ave, Manhattan contra-flow lane

1972-84

Q 10,000

50

Q 4.1

 

1995 (post-)

Q 10,000

55

Q 4.5

p.m.

1998.10.21

2,445

37

3.0

         

Second Ave, Manhattan contra-flow lane

1972-76

5,500

50

4.1

a.m.

1998.10.21

1,520

43

3.5

Ottawa

"Ottawa-Carleton Transitway"

1990

Q 11,000

Q 61

Q 4.5 (1)

         

"East Transitway"

1989

Q 9,000

   
         

Southeast Transitway

1985

Q 8,100

Q 52

Q 3.8 (1)

 

1995 (post-)

Q "

Q "

Q "

         

Southwest Transitway

1985

Q 4,200

46 Q

Q 3.4 (1)

         

E / SE Transitway*, Lees, p.m. - express

1992.8

1,840

19

1.3 (2)

- stopping

 

1,550

27

1.8 (3)

- total

 

3,390

23

1.7 (4)

         

Lees, a.m. - express

2000.8

2,100

25

2.1

- stopping

 

2,400

37

2.6 (5)

- total

 

4,500

30

2.3 (6)

         

Lees, p.m. - peak routes

2000.8

1,800

18

1.5 (7)

- all-day routes

 

1,400

28

1.9 (8)

- total

 

3,200

21

1.6 (9)

         

West Transitway

1985

Q 6,900

Q 62

Q 3.8 (1)

 

1989

Q 9,000

   
 

1995 (post-)

Q 11,100

Q 49

Q 3.6 (1)

         

Tunney’s Pasture, a.m. - peak routes

2000.8

2,600

28

2.3

- all-day routes

 

2,100

43

3.1 (10)

- total

 

4,700

33

2.6 (11)

         

Tunney’s Pasture, p.m. - peak routes

2000.8

2,000

30

2.5

- all-day routes

 

1,900

51

3.5 (12)

- total

 

3,900

38

2.9 (13)

         

Slater Street - a.m.

1995 (post-)

Q 11,000

Q 51

Q 3.8 (1)

 p.m.

 

Q 9,300

Q 50

Q 3.7 (1)

Notes : 1992.8 and 2000.8 data are from personal observation of actual volumes at Lees station, 28 August 1992, and at Lees and Tunney’s Pasture stations, 18-19 August 2000. Other Ottawa data are derived evidently from 5-minute passenger flows, scaled up to hourly rates .

1. based on composite vehicle length of 13.715 meters, assuming 25 percent articulated vehicles.

2. weighted average, 89 standard buses averaged 18 pass/veh; 10 articulated buses averaged 24 pass/veh.

3. weighted average, 30 standard buses averaged 28 pass/veh; 28 articulated buses averaged 34 pass/veh.

4. weighted average, 119 standard buses and 38 articulated buses.

5. weighted average, 45 standard buses averaged 32 pass/veh; 19 articulated buses averaged 48 pass/veh.

6. weighted average, 127 standard buses and 19 articulated buses.

7. weighted average, 95 standard buses averaged 18 pass/veh; 2 articulated buses averaged 20 pass/veh.

8. weighted average, 36 standard buses averaged 17 pass/veh; 14 articulated buses averaged 57 pass/veh.

9. weighted average, 131 standard buses and 16 articulated buses.

10. weighted average, 33 standard buses averaged 30 pass/veh; 16 articulated buses averaged 55 pass/veh.

11. weighted average, 125 standard buses and 16 articulated buses.

12. weighted average, 22 standard buses averaged 45 pass/veh; 15 articulated buses averaged 61 pass/veh.

13. weighted average, 90 standard buses and 15 articulated buses.

* Earlier versions of this tabulation used the incorrect label “SE / SW Transitway” the author apologizes for this error.

Philadelphia

Ben Franklin Bridge

1972-76

5,065

37

3.0

Schuylkill Expressway

"

2,800

36

3.0

Pittsburgh

East Busway

1985

4,200

42

* 3.1

 

1989

5,500

   
 

1990

5,892

57

* 4.2

 

1997.3

5,389

46

* 3.4

 Negley, p.m.

2000

4,002

39

* 2.8

         

East Busway, Negley, p.m. - nonartic., exp.

1992.8

2,300

36

3.0

- articulated

 

1,200

48

2.6

"     "     "     " - total

 

3,500

39

2.8 **

         

South Busway

1985

2,620

37

3.0

 

1990

2,098

41

3.4

 

1997.3

1,955

35

2.9

 

1995 (post-)

2,100

42

3.5

 South Hills Junction, p.m.

2000

1,858

33

2.7

         

Interstate-279 HOV

1990

485

37

3.0

 

1997.3

783

39

3.2

Notes :

*    based on composite vehicle length of 13.715 meters, assuming 25 percent articulated vehicles.

**    weighted average, 64 standard and 25 articulated buses.

1992.8 data are from personal observation of actual volume at Negley Ave station, 31 August 1992.

Portland

Banfield Freeway

1977

570

29

2.4

 

1980

657

30

2.5

         

Portland Mall

1972-78

Q 9,000

Q 50

Q * 3.6

         

Portland Mall - 6th Avenue

1995 (post-)

Q 8,500

Q 50

Q * 3.6

Portland Mall - 5th Avenue

1995 (post-)

Q 8,300

Q 50

Q * 3.6

Note : * based on composite vehicle length of 13.715 meters, assuming 25 percent articulated vehicles.

Rochester

Main St (reserved bus lane)

1962 (ca.)

4,982

54

4.4

 

1972-78

4,000

50

4.1

 

1995 (post-)

4,000

50

4.1

San Diego

Interstate-15

1990

350

25

2.0

San Francisco

U.S. 101

1975

3,572

38

3.1

 

1976

3,686

38

3.1

 

1995 (post-)

2,800

35

2.9

concurrent flow

1985

2,980

33

2.7

contraflow

"

6,000

40

3.3

         

Bay Bridge (pre-BART)

1964 (ca.)

7,812

36

3.0

 

1972-76

13,000

40

3.3

         

Bay Bridge (post-BART)

1972-76

8,900

44

3.6

 

1985

6,690

36

3.0

 

1995 (post-)

5,000

37

3.1

         

Market St (mixed traffic, no parking)

1964 (ca.)

7,553

58

4.8

Van Ness, p.m.

1999.7

912

22

3.4

Seattle

Route 15 - West Seattle (trolleybus), p.m.

1941

800

50

4.8

 

1944

1,300

72

6.8

         

Interstate-5, a.m.

1985

1,480

42

* 2.8

 

1990

2,605

41

* 2.7

 

1995 (post-)

2,750

39

* 2.6

         

Interstate-5, p.m.

1985

2,160

39

* 2.6

         

Evergreen Point Bridge (SR-520), p.m.

1985

2,300

42

* 2.8

Evergreen Point Bridge (SR-520), a.m.

1990

3,140

56

* 3.7

         

Interstate-90

1990

1,250

37

* 2.4

         

Tunnel, International District, north, a.m.

1999.6

1,590

39

2.1

south, p.m.

2000.7

2,500

47

2.6

         

Tunnel, Convention Place, south, a.m.

1999.6

1,730

48

2.6

north, p.m.

2000.7

2,600

54

3.0

Notes:

       

* based on composite vehicle length of 15.24 meters, assuming 50 percent articulated vehicles.

Northward and southward routes using the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel are not through-routed, as planned prior to construction. Northward routes originate at International District, while southward routes originate at Convention Place. Vehicle-occupancy statistics include only those buses continuing beyond Convention Place (northward) or International District (southward), and do not include terminating buses. Counts of “through” and “terminating” buses are presented below:

LOCATION

DATE

Through Buses

Terminating Buses

Total Buses

International District, a.m.

1999.6

41

15

56

p.m.

2000.7

54

14

68

         

Convention Place, a.m.

1999.6

36

12

48

p.m.

2000.7

48

21

69

Vancouver, BC

Lions Gate Bridge

1972-76

2,000

44

3.6

 

1990

1,080

40

3.3

         

Granville Mall

1995 (post-)

1,800

26

2.1

Washington, DC

Shirley Highway Transitway

1972-76

10,000

50

4.1

 

1974

8,756

55

4.5

 

1985

5,530

35

2.9

 

1990

5,621

35

2.9

 

1995 (post-)

5,000

31

2.6

         

Interstate-66

1985

3,080

34

2.8

 

1990

398

31

2.5

 

1995 (post-)

2,920

34

2.7

         

Memorial Bridge (pre-Metro)

1972-76

4,020

40

3.3

         

14th St

1972-76

8,000

50

4.1

Note : Standard buses are assumed to be 40' (12.19m) long; articulated buses are assumed to be 60' (18.29m) long.

Rail Systems

Atlanta

East Line

1980.6

4,250

118

5.2

West Line

"

3,725

103

4.5

East-West Line

1994

2,986

50

2.2

North-South Line

"

5,093

88

3.8

Baltimore

Metro, State Center, a.m.

2000.8

3,700

84

3.7

Central C’dor LRT, U of B / Mt. Royal, p.m

"

* 650

65

2.3

Camden yards, p.m.

920

66

2.3

Note : * Exclusive of trains to Penn Station terminal, which carried very few passengers.

Boston

Red Line (Dorchester Tunnel)

1977.6

8,651

98

4.6

Red Line (Longfellow Bridge)

"

6,526

74

3.5

Red Line

1985

13,000

191

9.0

 

1994

9,282

115

5.4

         

Orange Line (Washington St Elevated)

1977.6

8,350

160

9.5

Orange Line (Haymarket-North Extension)

"

6,050

116

6.9

Orange Line

1985

9,000

150

8.9

 

1994

7,379

92

5.5

         

Blue Line (East Boston Tunnel)

1977.6

5,088

85

5.8

Blue Line

1994

6,389

94

6.4

         

Green Line (Boylston St Tunnel)

1976

6,897

78

6.1

 

1985

10,600

125

5.7

Green Line (Lechmere Viaduct)

1976

1,499

31

2.4

 

1985

1,600

133

6.1

Green Line

1994

10,000

111

5.1

Weekday Ridership

Line

FY 2000

1996

1995

1994

1992

1976

Blue + Orange + Red

439,502

398,000

     

280,000

             

Blue

56,940

         

Orange

157,122

         

Red

225,400

         
             

Green

222,690

251,000

       

Subway + Lechmere

148,000

     

105,000

 

Surface

74,610

   

78,000

   

B Boston College

   

30,475

     

C Cleveland Circle

   

14,522

     

D Riverside

   

21,770

     

E Heath St

   

14,647

     
   

(1997)

       

Ashmont-Mattapan

 

7,752

       

Buffalo

LRRT

1997.3

1,240

50

1.7

Note : Weekday ridership: 25,000 (1995-97).

Calgary

South Line

1994

4,950

150

5.5

east entrance to CBD, a.m.

2000.spring

4,660

119

4.4

 

2002.4.3

4,460

121

4.5

         

Northeast Line

1994

3,395

103

3.8

east entrance to CBD, a.m.

2000.spring

4,550

126

4.6

 

2002.4.3

3,140

98

3.6

         

Northwest Line, Sunnyside, a.m.

2000.spring

3,650

101

3.7

Chicago

Lake Street

1976.5

5,015

52

3.6

Dan Ryan

"

12,498

92

6.3

         

Lake St - Dan Ryan

1984

12,300

81

5.5

         

Lake - Englewood / Jackson Park (Green)

1994

2,952

* 70

* 4.5

         

Howard

1976.5

8,038

61

4.2

Englewood / Jackson Park

"

4,802

52

3.6

Ravenswood / Evanston

"

7,329

56

3.8

North - South

1984

11,400

95

6.5

         

Howard - Dan Ryan (Red)

1994

11,533

* 96

* 6.2

Ravenswood (Brown)

"

7,051

* 73

* 4.7

Evanston (Purple)

"

3,479

* 82

* 5.3

         

Northwest (Milwaukee)

1976.5

10,213

77

5.3

"

1984

12,400

91

6.2

Dearborn St Subway

1994

9,376

84

5.7

         

Congress / Douglas

1976.5

4,921

48