Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated hybrid and remote work and online shopping. These changes caused a sharp decline in activity and transit use in downtowns across California, particularly in transit-oriented downtowns that account for a large share of statewide ridership. This decline has major implications for climate commitments, equity, and the economy. Public officials and business leaders are pursuing a range of strategies to revitalize downtowns and support transit recovery. However, transit ridership has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels. To support recovery efforts, this research analyzed which measures are most likely to generate substantial and lasting ridership gains in downtowns, focusing on five downtowns in the San Francisco Bay Area—San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, and Walnut Creek. For each downtown, the research team examined ridership data before and after the pandemic, reviewed how transit agencies responded in terms of adjusting service or other actions, and consulted revitalization plans by cities and business improvement districts. The research team also conducted surveys and interviews with transit riders and city leaders.
