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1 1 (March 23, 2020)

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Researh Service


Emergency Funding for Public Transportation

Agencies Due to COVID-19



March 23, 2020


Public Transportation Agency Budgets

The COVID-19 pandemic has reportedly resulted in a swift and large loss of public transportation
ridership and fare revenue. Examples in the early days of the crisis include an 88% loss of ridership for
New Jersey Transit, a 60% loss of subway ridership for New York's Metropolitan Transportation
Authority, a 60% loss for Denver's Regional Transportation District, and a 90% loss for Bay Area Rapid
Transit in San Francisco. Many transit agencies, including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority, have responded by cutting service, encouraging people to travel only when necessary, and
requiring riders to enter buses through the rear doors without paying a fare.
Fare revenue losses are likely to be compounded by a less immediate decline in local tax revenue
dedicated to transit agency budgets, particularly sales and property taxes. In 2018, fare revenue was 31%
of operating budgets and 22% of overall transit agency funding (Table 1). Taxes dedicated directly to
transit agencies were another 12% of overall funding. With both of these revenue sources under pressure,
many transit agencies will likely find it difficult to meet current commitments, such as staff pay and
benefits, and to restore service to previous levels once passenger demand rebounds.















                                                             Congressional Research Service
                                                               https://crsreports.congress.gov
                                                                                  IN11269


ClRS NSIGHT
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