CHAPTER 1
Introduction

Background

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 in the United States led to health advisories recommending people to remain at home and to shut down nonessential businesses. In subsequent months, regulations on activity in state and local municipalities varied to what extent businesses and institutions could operate in openness until the end of the national emergency on May 12, 2023. This unprecedented crisis wrought havoc on the economy, precipitating a sharp decline in transit ridership across the nation. Overall ridership levels have fluctuated following the pandemicʼs beginning, and the recovery trajectory has been uneven across different agency sizes, modes, and times of the day.

While transit ridership disruption is still a reality, local bus ridership proved more resilient than other modes. The resilience of local bus ridership amid the pandemic underscores the importance of this mode for essential travel and in-person work requirements. Despite the overall decline in ridership, local bus systems saw comparatively higher recovery rates, particularly in regions with lower car ownership. Notably, reliance on local bus services was prevalent among lower-income, female, and minority populations, highlighting the essential role of transit for those communities (Freemark, et al., 2021).

In major cities, peak period ridership in 2022 remained a fraction of that in 2019, while non-peak period ridership nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic-induced shift toward remote and hybrid work arrangements significantly impacted peak commuting-based ridership, which experienced the most substantial decline. Conversely, off-peak ridership exhibited greater resilience, nearing pre-pandemic levels in many regions. However, the persistent challenges in restoring peak period ridership underscore the need for transit agencies to adapt to evolving commuting patterns and preferences, especially as remote work becomes more prevalent.

Despite the prominence of traditional daytime work hours, the nighttime economy has seen steady growth, presenting new challenges and opportunities for transit services. Projections indicate significant employment growth in nighttime industries, highlighting the need for enhanced transit accessibility during non-traditional hours. However, accessing transit service during nighttime hours remains a challenge for many riders, particularly those working late shifts or residing in areas with limited service coverage. Addressing these challenges requires tailored transit solutions that cater to the unique needs of nighttime riders, including improved service frequency and coverage during off-peak hours.

In response to the pandemic-induced ridership decline, many transit agencies shifted their focus toward nighttime service enhancements to bolster ridership and adapt to changing travel patterns. Market research underscores the importance of aligning transit services with cultural

and social opportunities, emphasizing the role of nighttime travel in revitalizing transit ridership post-pandemic. This market research focuses on how transit agencies prioritize nighttime service improvements to support nighttime transit demand and address the needs of service and shift workers, as well as other essential workers such as grocery stores, healthcare, and other essential industries workers.

Key Terms

Several key terms are used throughout this synthesis report that require clarification. Due to the variety in service spans and different understandings of what is considered “nighttime,” this synthesis defines transit service operating between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. as a nighttime service. Conversely, “daytime” transit is the transit services operating between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. This synthesis also discusses the “nighttime economy,” defined as economic activity with a prevalence of workforce mobility needs outside the traditional 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. working hours. The synthesis uses the term “late shift” in reference to nighttime economy workers and defines “late shift” as the work shifts primarily between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Regarding the most common types of nighttime services, they tend to fit within five categories of service:

• Owl service: Separately branded route or a network of routes that only operate at night.
• Extended service hours on existing routes: Extending the span of service on existing daytime routes, with little change in alignment.
• Microtransit: Flexible transit option that offers curb-to-curb or door-to-door service among and between geographic zones.
• Contracted service with transportation network companies (TNCs) or shared-ride taxis: Transit agency provides a subsidy for users to ride existing TNCs or taxis.
• Bus bridges: Rail service is replaced by buses that ride the approximate route.

Objective and Scope

The objective of this synthesis is to document the initiatives undertaken by transit agencies to support nighttime transit ridership. This study aims to cover two specific types of initiatives: those that support nighttime transit demand and those that support nighttime essential, service, and shift workers.

Several questions guide this effort: What are the specific nighttime economies of different communities and how do these economies influence transit needs? How are nighttime services planned and operated in relation to daytime services? These questions are explored through the lenses of:

• Service market differentiation: Are the needs of the nighttime economy and essential workers distinguished in planning?
• Types of services: What services are planned, and what challenges do they face (e.g., owl services, on-demand transit, contracted services, extended hours)?
• Staff allocation: How much staff time is dedicated to nighttime services?
• Monitoring and research: How do agencies monitor travel patterns and conduct market research for nighttime transit?
• Guidelines and policies: What guidelines or policies do agencies follow for nighttime services, and how do they compare to daytime services?
• City size variation: How do planning considerations vary by city size?

The study examined topics such as:

• Partnerships: How do transit agencies collaborate with economic development staff and employers in planning services? How do agencies work with employers to train customers on using special services?
• Safety initiatives: How are security issues addressed operationally and infrastructurally?

This synthesis comprises a targeted literature review and industry examination, a survey of transit agencies, and case examples featuring transit agencies operating nighttime services based on interviews and additional study. Each task is described in more detail in the next section.

Technical Approach to Project

Literature Review

The literature review involved an extensive examination of academic and professional literature pertaining to nighttime transit services and related topics. Additionally, the study team conducted a comprehensive analysis of available data to discern prevalent patterns and emerging trends in nighttime ridership post-pandemic. This included a thorough review of transit agency reports, industry publications, and government data sources to provide a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with nighttime transit operations. The findings from the literature review and data analysis are detailed in Chapter 2, providing insights into initiatives and strategies for supporting nighttime transit ridership.

Survey

Based on the literature review findings and additional targeted information, the project team identified 63 agencies that currently operate or recently operated transit service between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The project team distributed an online survey via email and followed up several times in the days between January 30 and February 29, 2024. Figure 1 shows the 25 agencies that completed the survey.

Long Description.

The map shows red location pins marked across the states. The pins marked in the states are as follows: Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Survey questions were grouped thematically and aimed to complement the literature review efforts, including study gaps. Only agency name and contact information questions were required; respondents could skip other questions. In addition, the survey asked agencies whether they would be willing to participate in a phone interview and, if so, to provide contact information.

Case Examples

Case examples were selected from the list of agencies willing to participate in phone interviews to delve deeper into their initiatives supporting nighttime transit ridership. The selection process was guided by successful initiatives identified by the agency through the survey and focus topics that emerged from the literature review and survey results. This approach ensured a comprehensive examination of effective strategies and innovative practices implemented by transit agencies across different contexts.

Table 1 lists the interviewed agencies under each focus topic and the types of nighttime services offered.

Report Organization

This synthesis is organized into five chapters. Following this introductory chapter, Chapter 2 synthesizes existing research and contextualizes the challenges and opportunities for nighttime transit. Chapter 3 focuses on the survey insights and offers a snapshot of current practices and experiences from transit agencies. Chapter 4 delves into specific examples, examining topics of safety, operational solutions, resources, ridership patterns and recovery, and partnerships. These case examples highlight practical applications and innovative approaches. Chapter 5 synthesizes key findings, identifies barriers and challenges, highlights notable best practices, and suggests areas for further research.