Transit ridership down in several metro areas

A new report from TransitCenter shows the use of public transit is down in several big cities across the land.

TransitCenter is a New York-based foundation that looks at issues facing public transit. The report said while people have cut back on using public transit, they have not abandoned it entirely.

And while Lyft and Uber are easy scapegoats for the loss of riders, it's really the private automobile that has cut into public transit use. The report said there is a way to win riders back, by giving them what the want: frequent, reliable and safe service.

The numbers in the report mirror a recent MTC audit looking at bus service in the region, which also shows a decline.