Will Psychological Effects of Real-Time Transit Information Systems Lead to Ridership Gain?

This paper examines whether the psychological effects of real-time transit information on commuters will lead to a gain in transit ridership. A conceptual model, which posits a simultaneous structure among psychological and behavioral constructs, was developed on the basis of cognitive models of behavior. Path analysis was used to analyze such a process. A detailed stated preference survey for Chicago commuters composed the data-gathering approach. The analysis results showed that real-time transit information systems might achieve the goal of increasing transit ridership through their psychological effects on commuters. The results indicated that the provision of real-time transit information might serve as an intervention to break current transit nonusers’ travel habits and in consequence increase the mode share of transit use. Moreover, the results of this study suggest that real-time transit information may be more successful in increasing transit ridership if combined with facilitating programs that enhance commuters’ opportunities to be exposed to such systems before using them.