Transit Reports

Public Transportation Saves Energy and Helps Our Environment

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:

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

Public transportation use is one of the most effective actions individuals can take to conserve energy

Riding public transportation far exceeds the benefits of other energy-saving household activities, such as using energy-efficient light bulbs, adjusting thermostats, or using energy-efficient appliances.

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. Public transportation gives individuals affordable, energy efficient choices
Households that use public transportation save an average of more than $8,000 every year — even more as the price of fuel rises.
Household residents with proximity to public transportation drive an average of 4,400 fewer miles annually compared to those with no access to public transportation.

Public transportation use helps our environment

Approximately 85 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector are related to the surface transportation system. Those who choose to ride public transportation reduce their carbon footprint and conserve energy.

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.
If an individual switches from driving a 20-mile roundtrip commute to using public transportation, his or her annual CO2 emissions will decrease by 4,800 pounds per year, equal to a 10 percent reduction in a two-car household’s carbon footprint.

Public transportation use reduces congestion

Public transportation serves some of the most congested travel corridors and regions in the country.

According to the most recent Texas Transportation Institute report on congestion, public transportation saved travelers 541 million hours in travel time and 340 million gallons of fuel.
Without public transportation, congestion costs would have been an additional $10.2 billion.

Public transportation boosts the economy and creates “green jobs”

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

Public transportation ridership has increased by 30% since 1995, with more than 10.3 billion trips taken annually.
Every $1.25 billion investment in the nation’s transportation infrastructure supports approximately 35,000 jobs.
Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation can return up to $30 million in business sales alone.

Public transportation agencies are reducing their carbon footprint

Public transportation systems are deploying environmentally friendly vehicles such as dieselelectric hybrids. Transit systems are also making innovative investments to install solar technology
and construct facilities that meet new energy efficient standards such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.