COVID-19 and Public Transportation: Current Assessment, Prospects, and Research Needs

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Transportation Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for global public transportation, marked by significant drops in demand and revenue.
• Public transportation systems face multifaceted impacts, including financial viability, social equity, and sustainable mobility concerns, alongside health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize the state-of-the-art on public transportation and the COVID-19 pandemic up to June 2020.
• To identify research needs for minimizing contagion risk in public transportation during the post-lockdown phase.
• To outline a research agenda addressing the public health implications of strategies aimed at reducing crowding.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis of key developments regarding public transportation and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Analysis of governmental and agency responses worldwide.
• Identification of research gaps and needs based on current scientific understanding.

Main Results:

• Physical distancing measures pose challenges to mass transit operations.
• Proper face mask usage significantly reduces contagion probability in enclosed public transport environments.
• There is a risk of public perception of public transportation as unhealthy if the sector fails to transition effectively post-pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Urgent research is needed to address the public health implications and develop strategies for reducing crowding in public transportation.
• Restoring the societal role of public transportation systems requires focused attention on pandemic-related challenges and research needs.
• The findings provide an outlook for policymakers, planners, and researchers to navigate the pandemic's impact on public transit.