Transit Services for Seniors
Number 3 - rev. May, 2005
In 2008, the oldest baby boomers will draw their first Social
Security checks. Older adults, those age 60 or older, will represent more
than 20% of the nation's population by the year 2010. Many of these older
Americans will eventually outlive their abilities to safely operate an automobile.
The highway fatality rate has increased 33 percent for seniors in the past
decade, even as it has fallen nearly 10 percent overall. The 2005
White House Conference on Aging has ranked transportation options for
older Americans to be among the top three priorities facing seniors. This
Resource Guide identifies sources of information
on the special transportation needs of senior citizens, and how public transit
systems are meeting the challenge of a graying America.
Overview -- Profile of an Aging
Ridership
Sixty-five Plus in the United States (1995)
Senior citizens now comprise 1 of every 8 Americans or 35 million people. By the middle of
the next century, it may be inaccurate to think of ourselves as a Nation of the young:
there could be more Americans who are 65 or over than young (14 or younger).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html
Beyond Social Security: The Local Aspects of an Aging America.
William Frey, June 1999.
Cities and older areas will need to provide more community and public services for seniors
even as their tax bases dwindle. Suburbs, too, will need to prepare for the coming age
wave, because their current - and future - elderly populations will eventually need an
array of public services.
Source: Brookings Institution: http://www.brook.edu/dybdocroot/es/urban/publications/
freysocialsecurityexsum.htm
Summary of Travel Trends
In addition, government statistics have shown that senior citizens are traveling more. The
average elderly person increased her/his travel by almost 40 percent between 1990 and
1995.
Source: Federal Highway Administration: http://www-cta.ornl.gov/npts/1995/Doc/trends_report.pdf
Older American Attitudes toward Mobility and Transportation
Harris Interactive Survey, November 2005.
According to a interview survey released by APTA, more than four in five Americans
age 65 or older worry that they will be stranded and unable to get around
when they can no longer drive. Additionally, 98 percent of those seniors interviewed
said that maintaining their independece is "extremely important".
Source: American Public Transportation Association: http://www.apta.com/media/releases/documents/051206harris_interactive.pdf
Aging Americans: Stranded without Options
Linda Bailey, April, 2004.
This study demonstrates that over half of the 65+ year-old population is "isolated",
or stays at home in part because of their non-driving status. Rural and minority
elderly are much more likely to be isolated than their urban and suburban
counterparts. However, as population density increases, the number of seniors
who get out of their homes using public transportation also grows.
Source: Surface Transportation Policy Project: http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=232
Transportation and Older Persons: Perceptions and Preferences
Joseph Coughlin, 2001.
Results of focus groups composed of persons 75+ years old indicate a strong preference for
automobile-based transport and explicit reservations about alternatives to driving, but
willingness to use such alternatives, if available. While public transportation afforded a
desirable degree of independence and affordability, concerns with personal security and
accessibility were revealed.
Source: American Association of Retired Persons: http://research.aarp.org/il/2001_05_transport.pdf
Understanding Senior Transportation: Report and Analysis of a Survey of Consumers
50+
Audrey Straight, Anita Ritter, and Ed Evans, April 2002.
A telephone survey of almost 3,000 seniors reveal issues relating to safety and access in
using public transportation as most commonly cited concerns of adults age 50+. Persons age
75+ with poor health and disability status report greater problems with all aspects of
public transportation.
Source: American Association of Retired Persons: http://research.aarp.org/il/2002_04_transport_1.html
Safe Mobility for a Maturing Society: Challenges and Opportunities
November, 2003
Describes 5 strategies for providing better, easer-to-use public transit services for older passengers.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation: http://www.eyes.uab.edu/safemobility/SafeMobility.pdf
How Transit Systems are Providing
Mobility Solutions for Seniors
A 1992 APTA report, Americans in Transit, revealed that nationwide
almost 7 percent of all transit riders were seniors. In communities of less
than 50,000 population, 18 percent of passengers were reported to be 65 years
old or older. Many transit agencies offer combined services for disabled customers
and senior citizens. Data
from the 2002 APTA Transit Fare Summary indicates that most systems offer
discounts to senior passengers. Here are some examples of how systems have
gone beyond the basics to focus specifically on the mobility needs of seniors.
Expanding the Transportation Options in an Aging Society. 2005.
Key findings: Transit agencies are responding to broaden and improve services
for seniors, including provision of vehicles that are easier to board; broad
portals of information that are more user friendly; reduced fares, employee
awareness training, buddy travel programs and more.
Source: APTA: http://www.apta.com/research/info/online/aging_options.cfm
Improving Public Transit Options for Older Persons Vol. 1 Handbook, Vol.
2 Full Report. John E. Burkhardt & Charles A. Nelson, 2002.
Key findings: Challenges to public transportation are categorized into two
areas: (1) funding, resources, and priorities; (2) system and service constraints.
Describes activities transit operators can take regarding issues of reliability,
flexibility, and comfort, all of significant importance to seniors.
Source: TRB, TCRP Report 82: http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=1162
Using Public Transportation to Reduce the Economic, Social, and Human
Costs of Personal Immobility.
Crain and Associates Inc., 1999.
Key findings: Retaining basic public transportation services is critical to
improving the mobility of the transportation disadvantaged. Public transportation
agencies that are able to develop new alliances with nontraditional partners
will be the most successful at meeting the needs of this group. Simple ideas
and programs can yield significant mobility improvements.
Source: TRB, TCRP Report 49: http://nationalacademies.org/trb/publications/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_49.pdf
How Best to Serve Seniors on Existing Transit Services.
David Koffman & Roger Salstrom, September 2001
Customer satisfaction survey research data from three West Coast transit systems
were analyzed, comparing the responses of seniors and non-seniors. Among the
most important attributes for seniors' satisfaction with transit service were
drivers, reliable equipment, and on-time performance.
Source: Mineta Institute for Surface Transportation Policy Studies
web site:
http://transweb.sjsu.edu/publications/Seniors2.pdf
Easy Rider Program Guide for Public Transportation Organizations
American Public Transportation Association, May 2005
A toolkit of resources for transit systems to promote use of transit services
by America's aging population. The Guide includes sections on working with
the media; engaging partners; using advertising ; sample marketing materials
from transit agencies; and a collection of success stories.
Source: APTA web site: http://www.apta.com/easyrider/programguide.html
Denver, Colorado
Getting There: Bridging the Transportation Gap for Older Adults.
Nancy J. Smith & Marjean Drost, May 2001
A community foundation served as a catalyst to improve and coordinate transportation
services for older adults by organizing and funding a Transportation Summit in the Denver
metropolitan area. A Working Group comprised of a spectrum of agencies including the
Denver RTD transit system identified specific transportation needs of seniors, and
developed action areas including improvements to fixed route services; sharing among
agencies; and developing innovative, new services.
Source: APTA 2001 Bus & Paratransit Conference Proceedings Paper. Click here for for PDF file.
Portland, Oregon
Tri-County Elderly and Disabled Plan.
April 2000
The Plan presents analysis and recommendations for expanding the elderly and disabled
network to address service delivery, service coordination, customer satisfaction, resource
allocation, and land use pollicy issues.
Source: Tri-Met Web site: http://www.tri-met.org/e&dplan.htm
Service Examples
MetroLINK SeniorLink, Rock Island County IL, http://www.qcmetrolink.com/customers/seniors.php
Senior Mobility Program, Orange County, CA, http://www.octa.net/busrail/seniors/intro.asp
PATH Senior Fare Card, Port Authority of NY & NJ, http://www.panynj.gov/path/seniorfarecard.htm
MVRTA Senior EZ Ride, Dayton OH, http://www.mvrta.org
Johnson County Transit The JO - Special Edition, Olanthe KS
http://www.thejo.com
RTC Silver Star, Las Vegas NV, http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/ots/silverstar.htm
APTA Information Center
info@apta.com
Some of these pages may include links to documents in the Adobe PDF format. Please download the Adobe PDF reader if you have not already done so.
