Late-night or 24-hour transit service is a vital necessity for American workers and would have a positive impact on the economy, according to a study conducted by the American Public Transportation Association.
The report, Supporting Late-Shift Workers: Their Transportation Needs and the Economy, highlights the needs of late-shift commuters and offers recommendations communities can take to provide more commuting options.
Researchers found that late-shift workers are 40 percent less likely to use public transit because service is inadequate. These workers instead use rideshare services or their vehicles. Additionally, for those who do rely on public transportation, inadequate access to public transit increases turnover and absenteeism and can prevent some workers from seeking job opportunities.
The problem will continue to worsen, the study found. Industries that have a large share of Americans work nights and weekends are forecasted to grow over the next seven years.
Recommendations include increasing the hours of operation, increase funding at the state and federal level, increase investment in transit infrastructure and reduce the backlog of deferred maintenance, institute ride-matching services when fixed-route public transit might not be appropriate or attainable, and create a standardized process for partnerships between transit agencies and the private sector.
Nationwide, late-shift transit commuters generate $84 billion in sales annually and earn an estimated $28 billion in wages.