Buses and trains

Just when public transit use is booming, many systems are cutting services and raising fares, according to a national survey by the American Public Transportation Association.

Use of public transit soared to 2.8 billion rides from April through June — a 5.2 percent increase over that period last year, USA Today reports. That is the largest ridership for that quarter in 50 years.

Yet William Millar of the transport group called the situation "a double-edged sword. We're going to see more (fare) increases and more service cuts at a time when the nation is trying to encourage people to use public transit," he said.

Fare increases are in the offing for 61 percent of the 115 agencies that responded to the survey, and 35 percent said they may reduce services.

"We've fought for years to have more people using mass transportation to reduce pollution and reliance on foreign oil," said Rod Diridon, executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University. "Now we have the market ... but we don't have the capital funding."

One problem is that transit systems depend on public funding to an extent. Sales taxes and other funds tied to the economy are down at a time that fuel costs are up.

Cleveland's Regional Transit Authority proposed a half-dollar fuel surcharge on fares and a 12 percent cut in services. Riders revolted and Ohio is looking for money to amend the situation. The Transit Authority of River City in Louisville, Ky., has not been able to accommodate everyone who wishes to ride the bus. That is common: 39 percent of transit systems have turned passengers away, USA Today reports.

In the long run, fuel prices are likely to remain high. Across the country, more people will want to ride public transportation.

That is a challenge that must be met.