Spatial Analysis of Influences on Ridership on the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit System in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area

In the United States, Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems have become a popular transportation alternative. Minnesota built its first light rail system in 2004 with the Hiawatha Line and additional projects are underway in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. While light rail systems are attractive to commuters, they are expensive to construct and careful planning is ongoing to ensure their effectiveness. Analysis of ridership trends for LRT systems aid planners in optimizing the service area while operating within budgetary constraints. Two commonly accepted influences on transit use are: walking distance for access to transit, and population density within access areas. Using data from a survey of transit users in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, these two commonly accepted factors were analyzed to determine their significance in predicting ridership for the Hiawatha LRT. The analysis was carried out using ESRI GIS software and SPSS, a statistical analysis program.