If a city's population grows by 11 percent while public-transport capacity rises by only 3 percent, what is the most likely result?

Correct answer: Pressure per passenger and crowding may increase

Transport capacity and transport demand do not grow at the same rate in this situation. If the population, and therefore the possible number of passengers, rises by 11 percent while capacity rises by only 3 percent, more people must use a relatively smaller increase in services. The most likely result is option A: greater pressure per passenger and more crowding.

For example, if a system served 100 passenger-units before, demand may become about 111, while capacity becomes only 103 units. The gap between demand and capacity grows, so queues, waiting time, overcrowding, and pressure on vehicles or stations may increase. The result is not mathematically inevitable in every city, because travel behavior and new routes may also change, but it is the most reasonable direct inference. The other choices either reverse the likely effect or deny the relationship.