Commuter rail services operate in more than 20 North American regions, connecting communities to urban downtowns. These services enjoyed decades of growth, with ridership increasing by 50 percent between 1990 and 2019. However, travel demand shifts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and continued work-from-home patterns caused ridership to collapse and only partially recover. This sudden change also upended the traditional financial model, in which fare revenues covered more than half of operating costs. While commuter rail providers vary in size and structure, they all share an uncertain future in solidifying a long-term and financially sustainable role in serving regional transportation demands.
TCRP Research Report 254: The Future of Commuter Rail in North America, from TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program, examines the history of commuter rail in North America, evaluates current trends, presents constraints, reviews case studies, and explores strategies— including alternative approaches to service schedules, simplified fare structures, and infrastructure options—to address changing goals and circumstances at the agency, regional, and national levels in the United States and Canada.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. The Future of Commuter Rail in North America. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
Sign in to access your saved publications, downloads, and email
preferences.
Former MyNAP users: You'll need to reset your password on your first
login to MyAcademies. Click "Forgot password" below to receive a reset
link via email. Having trouble?
Visit our FAQ page
to contact support.
Members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of
Engineering, or National Academy of Medicine should log in through their
respective Academy portals.
Register
Register
Thank You
Thank You
Thank you for creating a MyAcademies account!
Enjoy free access to thousands of National Academies' publications, a
10% discount off every purchase, and build your personal library.
Forgot Password
Forgot Password
Enter the email address for your MyAcademies (formerly MyNAP) account to
receive password reset instructions.
Reset Requested
Reset Requested
We sent password reset instructions to
your email
. Follow the link in that email to create a new password. Didn't receive
it? Check your spam folder or
contact us
for assistance.
We sent a verification link to your email. Please check your inbox (and
spam folder) and follow the link to verify your email address. If you
did not receive the email, you can request a new verification link below