More San Diegans opting to take MTS over cars, new survey shows
The survey, which was conducted by ETC Institute for the transit system last November, also found the transit system is far exceeding the national averages in every performance metric — from timeliness, convivence and reliability to cleanliness and safety.
On top of that, its results suggested the transit system's efforts to attract higher-income people who have a car or access to other options appear to be working, with greater shares of riders making $75,000 yearly or more saying they are choosing to use the system to get to their final destination than in years past.
'It's truly incredible,' Chris Tatham, CEO of the Kansas-based research firm who led the survey, said to the MTS Board of Directors during Thursday's monthly meeting. 'I do these presentations regularly. Very rarely do I see ratings as high as these.'
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Of the roughly 4,000 randomly selected survey respondents, more than 80% expressed overall satisfaction with the transit system, with about five times as many people giving a better rating of the services than they did a year ago, compared to those whose opinion worsened.
The shifts came in tandem with high marks from respondents in areas like on-time performance, ease with finding out whether MTS buses or Trolleys are experiencing delays, level of convivence and efficiency, and presence of security throughout the network.
Each of these areas, which are ones MTS has made a concerted effort in recent years to improve upon, had more than 60% to 90% of surveyed customers respond positively to the transit system's performance, according to Tatham.
The metric where MTS performed the lowest — but was still above the national average — was in cleanliness at transit stops and in buses and trolleys. Only about 65% of bus riders and 53% of Trolley riders said the vehicles were clean, while 54% of respondents said stations were clean.
And it does not appear to be deterring riders. The survey found that far more bus and Trolley riders would recommend using MTS's services to friends or neighbors than those who would not or actively promote against it.
This has spilled into more people from higher-income levels choosing to take public transit compared to the last survey two years ago — something that Tatham noted he has observed nationally over the last few years.
In the study's demographic snapshot, roughly 23% of Trolley riders and 16% of bus riders reported annual income above $75,000.
Similar portions of MTS customers stated they were not dependent on transit to get around, meaning they have alternatives like driving alone or calling a rideshare service. About 28% of Trolley riders and 17% of bus riders reported having other options.
Of the people who said they were not reliant on MTS, many said they viewed the bus and Trolley 'just as convenient as walking or driving' or as a way to save money on car expenses like parking and gas.
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Work and school remained the top reasons why riders across the board were taking their respective trip when surveyed, but Tatham noted there has been an uptick in recent years of people using the system for leisure or to get to special events like sports games or concerts.
The survey is a promising sign for MTS as it sets out on another comprehensive analysis of the system operations and the effectiveness of its services.
The transit system's Board of Directors voted unanimously earlier this year to pursue the study, which would be the first since major capital projects like the Blue Line extension have come online, alongside one exploring a possible fare increase to avert a brewing budget crisis.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- San Francisco Chronicle
Dubai's booming restaurant scene is feeling the heat of high costs and high failure rates
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — From suspended tables to underwater lounges, some 13,000 food and drink establishments in Dubai pull out all the stops to attract customers in one of the world's most saturated dining markets. They cater to all tastes and budgets. Some spots ladle out inexpensive biryani while others offer dishes dusted with edible gold. These are some of the ways the emirate is competing with its neighbors Saudi Arabia and Qatar for tourist dollars and, so far, it's beating them handily. Dubai has more restaurants per capita than any major city except Paris. But the city-state's booming restaurant scene is testing the limits of its growth-at-all-costs model, raising questions about how long Dubai can keep feeding its own ambitions. A crowded and competitive market The competition is cutthroat, so presentation is key. 'Gone are the days when it just tastes good,' said Kym Barter, the general manager of Atlantis The Palm, a resort perched on a manmade archipelago that boasts more Michelin stars than any other venue in the Middle East. But dazzling Dubai's food bloggers — the most popular of whom have millions of social media followers — isn't enough. Staying afloat means battling high rents and winning over a diverse and demanding group of consumers. Dubai has roughly nine expatriate residents for every Emirati citizen. Most of its private sector workers are migrants on temporary contracts, and only Vatican City has a higher share of foreign-born residents. Tourists, in turn, outnumber locals about five to one by some estimates, and they spend lavishly. Visitors to Dubai drop an average of over five times more than those traveling to nearby Saudi Arabia or even the U.S., according to global restaurant consultant Aaron Allen. Dubai is 'on the right path' to becoming the world's food capital, said Torsten Vildgaard, executive chef at FZN by Björn Frantzén. The restaurant, which runs at more than $540 a head, was one of two in Dubai to nab three Michelin stars in May. 'We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg of what's to come in terms of gastronomy here,' Vildgaard added. With each new set of illuminated high-rises and hotels, another crop of eateries emerge, vying for patrons. The legions of construction workers powering Dubai's progress also need affordable options. That growth, propped up in part by investor pressure on some of the world's biggest chains to expand in Dubai, has created what some analysts warn is a bubble. 'If you're a publicly traded company like Americana, what are you supposed to do — just stop opening restaurants?' restaurant consultant Allen said, referring to the Gulf-based operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and other big franchises. The frenetic expansion of Dubai's restaurant industry is part of a regional shift that has seen Gulf Arab states pour hundreds of billions of dollars into building out tourist destinations as they move away from hydrocarbons to diversify their economies. Saudi Arabia has a high-stakes, $500 billion project: a straight-line futuristic city called Neom. But, in a Muslim-majority region, the United Arab Emirates has gone to lengths that some consider too much of a compromise, including relaxing restrictions on alcohol that fuel its pubs and nightlife and other social reforms. High costs and failure rates The rapid development comes at a price. Dubai's restaurants have a high failure rate, industry veterans say, though local authorities don't say what the rate of closures is. In the downtown district and other prime areas, annual rents for restaurants can top $100 per square foot. That's on a par with some of the world's most expensive cities. Still, the emirate issued almost 1,200 new restaurant licenses last year, according to Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. The department declined to respond to questions. Empty tables during peak hours are common, even in top locations. Part of the problem, managers say, is that traffic congestion is so severe that convincing diners to drive out can be a tall task. 'I sometimes go, 'Do I go into the restaurant right now, because I'm going to get into traffic?''' said Waseem Abdul Hameed, operations manager at Ravi, a Pakistani family-owned eatery famous for its official Adidas shoe line and a 2010 TV feature from Anthony Bourdain. He knows restaurateurs who have had to shut up shop and others who are squeezed by slim margins and increasingly reliant on delivery apps, Hameed said. The demand sends fleets of migrant workers racing through gridlock on motorbikes, with few protections and tight delivery windows. Emirati newspaper Khaleej Times reported the accidental deaths of 17 Dubai food couriers last year. The math of Dubai's restaurant scene doesn't add up, delivery apps and wealthy tourists notwithstanding, restaurant consultant Allen said. He cited operating expenses that have more than doubled relative to sales since 2009, when a financial crisis almost hobbled the emirate. Too many Dubai entrepreneurs, he put it simply, have 'too much money, and they don't know what to do besides open restaurants.'
an hour ago
Dubai's booming restaurant scene is feeling the heat of high costs and high failure rates
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- From suspended tables to underwater lounges, some 13,000 food and drink establishments in Dubai pull out all the stops to attract customers in one of the world's most saturated dining markets. They cater to all tastes and budgets. Some spots ladle out inexpensive biryani while others offer dishes dusted with edible gold. These are some of the ways the emirate is competing with its neighbors Saudi Arabia and Qatar for tourist dollars and, so far, it's beating them handily. Dubai has more restaurants per capita than any major city except Paris. But the city-state's booming restaurant scene is testing the limits of its growth-at-all-costs model, raising questions about how long Dubai can keep feeding its own ambitions. The competition is cutthroat, so presentation is key. 'Gone are the days when it just tastes good,' said Kym Barter, the general manager of Atlantis The Palm, a resort perched on a manmade archipelago that boasts more Michelin stars than any other venue in the Middle East. But dazzling Dubai's food bloggers — the most popular of whom have millions of social media followers — isn't enough. Staying afloat means battling high rents and winning over a diverse and demanding group of consumers. Dubai has roughly nine expatriate residents for every Emirati citizen. Most of its private sector workers are migrants on temporary contracts, and only Vatican City has a higher share of foreign-born residents. Tourists, in turn, outnumber locals about five to one by some estimates, and they spend lavishly. Visitors to Dubai drop an average of over five times more than those traveling to nearby Saudi Arabia or even the U.S., according to global restaurant consultant Aaron Allen. Dubai is 'on the right path' to becoming the world's food capital, said Torsten Vildgaard, executive chef at FZN by Björn Frantzén. The restaurant, which runs at more than $540 a head, was one of two in Dubai to nab three Michelin stars in May. 'We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg of what's to come in terms of gastronomy here,' Vildgaard added. With each new set of illuminated high-rises and hotels, another crop of eateries emerge, vying for patrons. The legions of construction workers powering Dubai's progress also need affordable options. That growth, propped up in part by investor pressure on some of the world's biggest chains to expand in Dubai, has created what some analysts warn is a bubble. 'If you're a publicly traded company like Americana, what are you supposed to do — just stop opening restaurants?' restaurant consultant Allen said, referring to the Gulf-based operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and other big franchises. The frenetic expansion of Dubai's restaurant industry is part of a regional shift that has seen Gulf Arab states pour hundreds of billions of dollars into building out tourist destinations as they move away from hydrocarbons to diversify their economies. Saudi Arabia has a high-stakes, $500 billion project: a straight-line futuristic city called Neom. But, in a Muslim-majority region, the United Arab Emirates has gone to lengths that some consider too much of a compromise, including relaxing restrictions on alcohol that fuel its pubs and nightlife and other social reforms. The rapid development comes at a price. Dubai's restaurants have a high failure rate, industry veterans say, though local authorities don't say what the rate of closures is. In the downtown district and other prime areas, annual rents for restaurants can top $100 per square foot. That's on a par with some of the world's most expensive cities. Still, the emirate issued almost 1,200 new restaurant licenses last year, according to Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. The department declined to respond to questions. Empty tables during peak hours are common, even in top locations. Part of the problem, managers say, is that traffic congestion is so severe that convincing diners to drive out can be a tall task. 'I sometimes go, 'Do I go into the restaurant right now, because I'm going to get into traffic?''' said Waseem Abdul Hameed, operations manager at Ravi, a Pakistani family-owned eatery famous for its official Adidas shoe line and a 2010 TV feature from Anthony Bourdain. He knows restaurateurs who have had to shut up shop and others who are squeezed by slim margins and increasingly reliant on delivery apps, Hameed said. The demand sends fleets of migrant workers racing through gridlock on motorbikes, with few protections and tight delivery windows. Emirati newspaper Khaleej Times reported the accidental deaths of 17 Dubai food couriers last year. The math of Dubai's restaurant scene doesn't add up, delivery apps and wealthy tourists notwithstanding, restaurant consultant Allen said. He cited operating expenses that have more than doubled relative to sales since 2009, when a financial crisis almost hobbled the emirate. Too many Dubai entrepreneurs, he put it simply, have 'too much money, and they don't know what to do besides open restaurants.'
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
Trump didn't just cut a deal with Vietnam — he was targeting China, too
On Wednesday, Trump announced a trade deal with Hanoi that would levy 20% on imports from Vietnam, down from the 46% rate Trump announced on "Liberation Day." In return, Vietnam has agreed to allow American goods to enter the country duty-free. What's also significant is that Trump announced a 40% tariff on goods shipped from another country via Vietnam to the US — a move that analysts say is aimed squarely at transshipments from China. "The 'China quotient' in US negotiations with other Asian economies is arguably evident in the deal with Vietnam," wrote Vishnu Varathan, Mizuho's macro research head for Asia, excluding Japan, in a Thursday note. "The US's intent is quite obviously to not disincentivize Vietnam's role as a substitute for China at a lower 20% tariff," he added. Vietnam has benefited from global supply-chain shifts away from China since Trump's initial trade war during his first term. In response to those tariffs, many multinational companies, including Chinese firms, moved manufacturing operations to lower-cost hubs like Vietnam to sidestep US duties. Last year, the US ran a $123.5 billion trade deficit with Vietnam, making it America's third-largest trade gap after China and Mexico, according to the US Trade Representative's office. A model for future trade deals? The move follows a temporary truce between Washington and Beijing in May, when both sides agreed to a 90-day pause in their tariff war. The US slashed duties on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China lowered its tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%. Still, the transshipment tariff on Vietnam underscores the Trump administration's effort to close the backdoor for Chinese exporters seeking loopholes into the US market. "A tariff framework that targets transshipment while preserving the potential benefits of efficient cross-border commerce is a smart move— and a model for future trade deals — if enforced transparently and paired with clear rules of origin," wrote Eli Clemens, a policy analyst at Washington-based Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a nonpartisan research institute, on Wednesday. The move also shows that Washington can stop Chinese supply chains from extending themselves into Southeast Asia. "Future trade negotiations should also include targeted transshipment deterrents that level the playing field for US manufacturers and retailers," Clemens wrote. Asia in a bind Washington's focus on transshipment enforcement puts pressure on other Asian economies, which may find themselves forced to choose sides. "It would be remiss to ignore this critical pillar of US trade deals with the rest of Asia, which is trained on undermining China's economic reach and influence," wrote Varathan. The deal may also reinforce Beijing's view that US trade negotiations lacks "good faith." It could prompt retaliation — not just against the US, but also against Asian economies seen as siding with Washington. "Other Asian economies will be particularly vulnerable to a two-sided geoeconomic squeeze given that their reliance on both China and US are significant," Varathan added. Despite reservations about the deal, it still excited investors. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite soared to record highs on Wednesday, and US stock futures are extending gains early on Thursday. Vietnam's widely followed VN-Index also rose to its highest level since April 2022.
