Public Transport

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY OVERVIEW:

    • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CONSISTS OF A VARIETY OF SERVICES INCLUDING: BUSES, TROLLEYS AND LIGHT RAIL, COMMUTER TRAINS, STREETCARS, CABLE CARS, VAN POOL SERVICES, PARATRANSIT SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FERRIES AND WATER TAXIES, AND MONORAILS AND TRAMWAYS.
    • There are more than 6,500 providers of public and community transportation offering Americans the opportunity and the choice to travel by means other than a car.
    • Approximately 1,500 agencies provide bus service, 5,960 provide paratransit services, 80 provide rail service, and 150 provide other modes of public transportation.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INCREASING RIDERSHIP:

    • THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOWED ITS SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS 76% OF ALL BALLOT INITIATIVES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PASSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN NOVEMBER 2008, EVEN AS THE ECONOMY SLOWED.
    • In 2007, Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation – the highest ridership level in 50 years.
    • 34 million times each weekday, people board public transportation. Since 1995 public transportation ridership is up 32 percent.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:

    • EVERY $1 INVESTED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $6 IN LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
    • Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales.
    • Every $10 million in operating investment in public transportation yields $32 million in increased business sales.
    • Real estate -- residential, commercial or business -- that is served by public transportation is valued more highly by the public than similar properties not as well served by transit.
    • Public transportation enhances local rural economic growth in many ways, increasing the local customer base for a range of services -- shopping malls, restaurants, medical facilities and other... [continues]

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