Which statement about the relationship between density and transit efficiency is true?

• A. Increasing density always reduces transit use
• B. Higher density generally supports more efficient transit and reduced land consumption
• C. Density has no impact on transit performance
• D. Lower density eliminates the need for transit

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that density and transit efficiency are positively related. When more people and jobs are packed into a given area, a transit system can attract more riders, run service more frequently, and spread fixed costs over a larger user base. This combination improves reliability and reduces ride times, making transit more attractive and cost-effective. At the same time, concentrated development means less land is needed per rider, since facilities and lines serve more people without expanding far into low-density areas. So higher density generally makes transit more efficient and helps reduce the land consumed per person.

The other statements don’t fit because increasing density doesn’t usually reduce transit use; it tends to increase potential riders. Density does affect how well transit works, so saying it has no impact isn’t accurate. And while low density can challenge transit efficiency, it doesn’t inherently eliminate the need for transit—it just makes providing efficient service more difficult and land-intensive per rider.