How can ridership data assist transit decision-making?

Ridership data is a crucial component in transit decision-making because it provides insights into how many people are using the transit system, when they are using it, and where they are traveling. By analyzing this data, transit agencies can identify usage patterns, such as peak travel times, popular routes, and trends over different periods. This information can help agencies make informed adjustments to services and schedules, such as increasing frequency on busy routes, optimizing connections between lines, or reducing service on underutilized routes. These adjustments aim to enhance operational efficiency and improve passenger satisfaction by better meeting the needs of the ridership. Thus, leveraging ridership data directly informs changes that can lead to a more effective transit system.