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An analysis of air mass effects on rail ridership in three US cities

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  • Kalkstein, Adam J
  • Kuby, Michael
  • Gerrity, Daniel
  • Clancy, James J

Abstract

This paper examines whether daily weather affects ridership in urban transportation systems. When examining human–weather relationships, it is often advantageous to examine air masses, which take into account the entire parcel of air over a region. Spatial synoptic classification characterizes air masses based upon numerous meteorological variables at a given location. Thus, rather than examining temperature or precipitation individually, here we compare daily ridership to synoptic air mass classifications for three urban rail systems: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and the Hudson–Bergen light-rail line in northern New Jersey. Air masses are found to have a significant impact on daily rail ridership, with usage typically increasing on dry, comfortable days and decreasing on moist, cool ones, particularly on weekends. Although the comfort of a particular air mass changes throughout the year, seasonality is not a significant factor with respect to the air mass–ridership relationship. The results of this study can benefit rail system managers who must predict daily ridership or in the development of cost-benefit analyses for station improvements.

Suggested Citation

  • Kalkstein, Adam J & Kuby, Michael & Gerrity, Daniel & Clancy, James J, 2009. "An analysis of air mass effects on rail ridership in three US cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 198-207.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:17:y:2009:i:3:p:198-207
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2008.07.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Li, Junlong & Li, Xuhong & Chen, Dawei & Godding, Lucy, 2018. "Assessment of metro ridership fluctuation caused by weather conditions in Asian context: Using archived weather and ridership data in Nanjing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 356-368.
    4. Yang, Xiaobao & Yue, Xianfei & Sun, Huijun & Gao, Ziyou & Wang, Wencheng, 2021. "Impact of weather on freeway origin-destination volume in China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 30-47.
    5. Tao, Sui & Corcoran, Jonathan & Hickman, Mark & Stimson, Robert, 2016. "The influence of weather on local geographical patterns of bus usage," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 66-80.
    6. Kashfi, Syeed Anta & Bunker, Jonathan M. & Yigitcanlar, Tan, 2016. "Modelling and analysing effects of complex seasonality and weather on an area's daily transit ridership rate," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 310-324.
    7. Zanni, Alberto M. & Ryley, Tim J., 2015. "The impact of extreme weather conditions on long distance travel behaviour," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 305-319.
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    9. Kashfi, Syeed Anta & Bunker, Jonathan M. & Yigitcanlar, Tan, 2015. "Understanding the effects of complex seasonality on suburban daily transit ridership," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 67-80.
    10. Wei, Ming & Liu, Yan & Sigler, Thomas & Liu, Xiaoyang & Corcoran, Jonathan, 2019. "The influence of weather conditions on adult transit ridership in the sub-tropics," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 106-118.
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