Transit News Features

More Than $8,600 Saved Annually by Individuals Who Seek to “Ride Out” the Rough Economy by Riding Public Transportation

Riding public transportation can save an individual an average of $8,691 a year based on the May 5, 2009 national average gas price and the unreserved monthly parking rate, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

Taking public transportation is an economical way to travel as individuals seek to “ride out” the recession. Riding public transportation also reduces carbon emissions and mitigates America's dependence on foreign oil.

Public Transportation Is Safe -- Public Transit Systems Have Precautionary Procedures In Place

The millions of people who take public transportation should continue to do so, knowing that public transit systems already have procedures in place to deal with seasonal flu outbreaks and are closely monitoring the H1N1 virus (swine flu) outbreak.

Transit systems regularly clean facilities, vehicles, and fare vending equipment with high-grade germicidal solutions and will take additional measures as appropriate. Coordination on this issue is happening between transit systems and federal agencies.

Two Out of Three Jobs Created by Public Transit Investment Replace Jobs Hardest Hit by Economic Downturn -- New Study Shows $1 Billion Investment in Public Transportation Yields 30,000 Jobs

A new study released today shows that investing in public transportation provides jobs to the American workers who may need them the most. Job Impacts of Spending on Public Transportation: an Update shows that two-thirds (67 percent) of the jobs created by capital investment in the public transit industry replaces lost blue-collar jobs with “green jobs” in the public transit sector.

Reinventing Transit -- American Communities Finding Smarter, Cleaner, Faster Transportation Solutions

This report showcases the new generation of innovative public transit already operating across America. Through 11 case studies, we demonstrate how cutting-edge transit has been implemented quickly and cost-effectively in a variety of settings from urban to rural.

Providing better, cost-effective transit options is key to our nation’s economic and environmental recovery. On the environmental side, transportation sources are responsible for about a third of U.S. global warming pollution — most of which comes from cars and trucks. Economically, investments that expand transit provide more and longer-lasting jobs than investments to expand highways, while boosting economic development, enhancing real estate values and helping relieve consumer reliance on foreign oil.