GAO
28 Jan 2026
Millions of passengers and employees travel to U.S. airports daily. Getting more riders on public transit—such as buses or subways—could help relieve increasing congestion on airport roads.
Most of the 51 airports we reviewed have some public transit. While many large airports have rail service, buses typically serve the medium and small airports. But factors such as travel time, accessibility, and lack of familiarity deter many riders from taking public transit.
To promote transit use, some airports are adding signage and advertisements. Others are exploring incentives for riders, such as free public transit or expedited security screenings.
