Freeway Development Effects upon Adjacent Transit Usage

The relationship between development of the North-South freeway in Milwaukee County, Wis., and the transit patronage on adjacent bus routes of the Milwaukee and Suburban Transport Company is examined. These comparisons are made by determining the proportion of the transit riders using routes adjacent to the freeway to the total transit ridership during periods of freeway right-of-way acquisition, construction, and operation. Results indicate that transit lines immediately adjacent and parallel to the freeway show a loss in their proportion of total riders during right-of-way acquisition for the freeway. Other lines in the vicinity of the freeway show no proportionate losses, and may in certain cases increase their share of riders. Opening the freeway did not produce any measurable effect of the share of riders carried by the transit lines. The relationship between the establishment of one-way streets and transit usage is also examined.