Could cities and transit systems in the United States boost ridership and revenue if they marketed their systems, stations, and surrounding neighborhoods to tourists? Here is the value proposition:
America’s largest cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington DC host millions of domestic and international tourists each year and also have some of the most extensive rail transit networks in the United States.
Cities have invested in transit-oriented development around rail stations, providing visitors with vibrant places to stay, eat, drink, and shop.
As post-pandemic remote work trends continue, subway and commuter rail agencies are looking for ways to attract new riders.
Although big cities can be expensive places to visit, many have more affordable hotels near rail stations located outside of downtown.
When it comes to exploring, transit is a cheaper alternative to renting a car or ride-hailing and a less stressful alternative to traffic and parking.
A significant segment of tourists prioritizes sustainable travel and are also interested in “city adventures” beyond the main attractions and experiencing their destination like a local.
Transit Tourism: Plan Your Next Vacation Around a Rail Station
Transit-Oriented Discoveries has created DMVTransitTourism a website and mobile app to help travelers plan their next trip to the nation’s capitol around the region’s extensive subway and commuter rail network. The site provide links to over 244 hotels within 1/2 mile of the area’s Metro, Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) stations along with an easy way to lookup places to eat, drink, shop, and celebrate a close walk from stations. It also offers curated itineraries such as “A Day on the Red Line” Locals can also use the site to meet up with friends, plan a date night, or explore a new neighborhood.
If you are intrigued by what you see at DMVTransitTourism and would like to create a similar data platform and website for your city or transit system, please reach out to connect@transitdiscoveries.com
Mobile app for the iphone is available for download for free on the App Store
