THE FACE OF

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

1
Public Transportation in the U.S.
Today
Transit in every state in the Union

Of the 464 urbanized areas, all but 14 have transit

15 heavy rail systems; 33 light rail; 22 commuter rail

34 million times a day, people board public

transportation

10.1 billion annual boardings (2006)

6,000 transit providers in U.S.; 70% of usage on top 30

systems

$44 billion industry; employs more than 366,000 people

2
Transit Use Growing Faster Than Highway
Use (1995 – 2006)

35%

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%
U.S. Population Highway VMT Transit
(12%) (24%) (30%)

3
 Ridership by Mode - 2005
Unlinked Transit Trips
Light Rail
4%

Heavy Rail
29%

Passenger Miles
Commuter Bus Light Rail
Rail 61% 4%
4%
Heavy Rail
Paratransit/ 29%
Other
Bus
2%
44%

Commuter Paratransit/
Rail Other
19% 4%
4
Who Uses Public Transportation
and Why?
People take transit to make money and to spend money

Median household income for transit users - $39,000

65% of riders take it to commute

56% would use private vehicles if no transit available

53% of U.S. households have no access to public transit

5
2005 Transit Industry Revenue
Sources – $44 Billion
Local
21.3%

Directly
Generated
42.0%

State
20.5%

Federal
2005 Capital Funding - $12.4 Billion 16.2% 2005 Operating Funds- $31.7 Billion
Local Directly Local
21.9% Generated 21.0%
26.5%

Directly
Generated
48.1%
State
12.6%
State
23.6%

Federal Federal
39.0% 7.3%
6
 Public Transportation
in the U.S.

Cost is Clear: Benefits Are Diffuse

 Transit users benefit from transit

investment; but so do:
• urban auto drivers
• employers
• trucking companies
• asthma sufferers
• many, many others

7
 Public Transportation
in the U.S.

When the Federal Government invests in

public transportation, it buys:

 Energy independence

 Greenhouse gas reduction

 Congestion relief and time savings

 Economic development

 Security and disaster relief

8
Shift From Auto to Transit Lowers
Dependence on Foreign Fuel

Saves 1.4 billion gallons of

gasoline annually -- or
4 million gallons of gasoline
per day
Oil
Consumption
Drops

9
Public Transportation is a Net
Carbon Reducer

Net CO(2) savings from public transportation 6.9 million

metric tons – direct savings

Secondary savings suggest “leverage effect” for transit

A household can save 10% of its carbon footprint if

one worker commutes by transit

10
Benefits of Public Transportation:
Boosts The Economy

$1 billion of $ 6 billion in
federal economic returns
Produces
investment
in transit

11
Reduces Congestion; Costs Would
Have Been 13% Worse

Public transportation saves $10.2 billion in

user costs and 541 million hours in travel
time
Without transit, congestion
Size of city not the issue: intensity of transit is
would be 18% more in 14
largest urban areas (feel free to

-- people can’t use what they don’t have

change wording)
Provides Security and Disaster Relief

Public transit contributes in times of

emergency

 Post 9/11

 Hurricane Katrina

 Earthquakes

 Floods

13
Private Investment and Transit

 Opportunities for private investment exist – but distinct

in approach (e.g. value capture, real estate)
 Presence, predictability and stability of long term
revenue necessary
 Opportunity to improve procurement and delivery
 Part of the funding equation
 Benefits diffuse – user charges not able to capture