Transit Reports

Public Transportation Gets Our Economy Moving

Public transportation plays a significant role in finding smart solutions to the challenges facing America today. Investing in public transportation has the “triple effect” of:

Stimulating economic growth and development by creating “green jobs”
Helping to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil
Lessening our impact on the environment

Boosts the economy and creates jobs

The United States can create and support more than 1.3 million new green jobs within the next two years by implementing $47.8 billion in supplemental transit capital projects, according to a recent transit needs estimate by the American Public Transportation Association.

of these projects are “ready-to-go” and — with a federal investment of $15.9 billion — could be initiated within 90 days of federal funding.
These “ready-to-go” projects could create approximately 440,000 green jobs for Americans and help transit systems meet steady, growing demand for public transit services.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, every $1.25 billion investment in the nation’s transportation infrastructure supports approximately 35,000 jobs.

Benefits businesses and families

Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation can return up to $30 million in business sales alone.
Each year an individual can achieve an average annual savings of over $8,000 by taking public transportation instead of driving and by living with one less car.
For every one dollar earned, the average U.S. household spends 18 cents on transportation, 94 percent of which goes toward maintaining and operating a vehicle.

Gets individuals where they need to go

In 2007, more than 10 billion trips were taken on public transportation, the highest level in 50 years.
More than 2.8 billion trips were taken on public transportation in the third quarter of 2008 — an increase of 6.5 percent over the third quarter of 2007. This is the largest quarterly increase in public transportation ridership in 25 years.
The American public showed its support for public transportation as 76% of all ballot initiatives for public transportation passed throughout the country in November 2008, even as the economy slowed.
Reduces our dependence on foreign oil
Public transportation use saves the U.S. the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually — and more than 11 million gallons of gasoline per day.
Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill-ups every day.

Reduces our carbon footprint

U.S. public transportation saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually — equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households or every household in Washington DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined.