In Hampton Roads, getting on the bus could get harder

Public transportation played a larger role in the lives of Americans last year than it has in half a century. But the historic surge in ridership isn't likely to continue if recession-minded public officials cut too deeply into services at a time when they're needed most.

The American Public Transportation Association released a report Monday showing that the nation's public transit systems recorded 10.7 billion rides last year, up 4 percent from 2007. The total - the highest in 52 years - was fueled largely by a summer of $4-a-gallon gas and an economic downturn.

Unfortunately, the growth isn't expected to last. Ridership numbers have stalled, partly because of lower gas prices and a sharp rise in unemployment. But further drops could occur as many regions, including Hampton Roads, look at scaling back routes and taking other steps to cope with budget deficits.

The recently passed federal stimulus package includes $8.4 billion for public transit. However, the spending plan is primarily focused on the future - new buses, new rail lines and other long-awaited capital improvement projects.

The present doesn't look nearly as promising. State and federal governments have slashed funding for basic operations, prompting transit systems nationwide to ask cash-strapped local officials for extra money. Many of those requests are being met with a "what can we do?" shrug, and transit leaders have raised fares and made other moves likely to suppress ridership.

In Boston, officials are looking at raising fares by 20 percent and killing 20 bus routes. In Charlotte, bus fares are going up, and the number of routes and hours of service are going down. Maryland officials have reduced commuter rail service, and the District of Columbia's Metro system is looking at bus and rail cuts.

Hampton Roads Transit is appealing to its cities for supplemental funding and looking at cutting routes that have lower levels of ridership.

In lean times, just about every public agency - and business, for that matter - must reduce expenses. But public officials here and elsewhere need to exercise caution on public transit.

At a time when our nation is focused on reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and is making an $8.4 billion commitment to the future of public transit, it makes no sense to undermine ridership today.