Transportation Indicators

							                                            MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION DASHBOARD

                                                                       Vehicle Miles Traveled by Month
                                                                           July 2007 to April 2009

                                                  Year-over-year Percent Change
      4%
      3%
                                                                                         Historically, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has steadily increased
      2%                                                                                 except for minor declines during economic recessions.
      1%
      0%
                                                                                         Nationally, VMT have been declining since November 2007, except for
     -1%                                                                                 recent increases in April. Maryland has largely reflected this trend
     -2%                                                                                 with year-over-year VMT declining almost every month since August
                                                                                         2007.
     -3%
     -4%
     -5%
                                                                                         The decline in VMT is largely attributable to reduced economic
                                                                                         activity; however, the decline in the spring and summer of 2008 can
     -6%                                                                                 also be attributed to higher gas prices.
           Jul-07     Oct-07   Jan-08    Apr-08     Jul-08   Oct-08    Jan-09   Apr-09




                                                                  Change in Transit Ridership by Month
                                                                       July 2007 to March 2009

                                                                                                                                  Year-over-year Percent Change
                                                                                           21%
     Since July 2007, year-over-year transit ridership for services
     provided by the Maryland Transit Administration has increased                         18%
     every month except for three months.
                                                                                           15%

                                                                                           12%
     The decline in VMT has resulted in an increase in transit
     ridership. As gas prices spiked in the spring of 2008, individuals                     9%
     looked for less expensive transportation options. As the economy
     weakened, individuals continued to look for savings through their                      6%
     choices in transportation.
                                                                                            3%

                                                                                            0%
     Transit ridership grew by 5.5% in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal
     2007. Through May 2009, transit ridership has increased 4.2% for                       -3%
     fiscal 2009 compared to the comparable fiscal 2008 time period.
                                                                                            -6%
                                                                                                  Jul-07   Oct-07   Jan-08   Apr-08   Jul-08   Oct-08   Jan-09




                                         Farebox Recovery Rates – Baltimore Core Services, WMATA, and MARC
                                                                  Fiscal 2003 to 2008

      70%                                                                                Farebox recovery is a measure of what extent the revenues collected
      65%                                                                                through fares pay for the service provided. The statutory farebox
      60%                                                                                recovery rate is 35% for Baltimore City Core Services and MARC.
      55%                                                                                WMATA does not have a statutory farebox recovery rate.
      50%
      45%                                                                                The recovery rate for Baltimore City services has been declining in
      40%                                                                                recent years as costs for fuel and employee benefits have outpaced
      35%                                                                                ridership and revenue growth.
      30%
                                                                                         The farebox recovery rate for WMATA has generally fluctuated between
      25%
                                                                                         55 and 60% largely due to the high farebox recovery rate of its
      20%
                                                                                         Metrorail service.
      15%
      10%                                                                                MARC service has exceeded the farebox recovery rate due to the
       5%                                                                                popularity of the service; however, in recent years the farebox recovery
       0%                                                                                rate has been declining due to increased contract costs.
                    2003       2004         2005         2006         2007       2008

                               Baltimore Core Services   MARC     WMATA




Prepared by: Department of Legislative Services                                                                               Contact: Jonathan D. Martin (410-946-5530)
Sources: Maryland Department of Transportation; Department of Legislative Services                                                              Updated: August 6, 2009