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National RTAP has compiled a list of compelling statistics from diverse national sources that your organization can add to presentations, brochures, handouts, and advertisements to help demonstrate the many benefits and lasting value of public transit. By using powerful data in your marketing materials, you can influence stakeholders to foster policies and improve funding mechanisms that invest in and expand the reach of transit. Statistics in this toolkit can also be used in direct consumer marketing materials to attract and retain current and future riders.
The data on this page cover a host of substantial transit benefits and assets, including economic prosperity, expanded job opportunities, enhanced access to vital community resources, and improvements to the environment and public health and individual well-being.
Sources and links to original research and reports are provided next to the data.
2021 - 52% of people say it's extremely or very important to have safe public transportation. 2021 AARP Home and Community Preferences Survey
2019 - Motorcoaches release the least amount of CO2 emmissions (36.7) compared to other modes of travel, such as a car with one person (355.7), transportation network company (374.4), and domestic air travel. (181.5). Updated Comparison of Energy Use & Emissions from Different Transportation Modes
2023 - If you can live with one less vehicle in your household, you would save $6,624 in car ownership cost. Fuel Savings Calculator
2022 - Public transit employs about 430,000 people. 2022 Public Transportation Factbook
2022 - 80% of Transit Ballot Initiatives passed in 2022 Voters Across the Country Support Public Transportation at the Ballot Box
2022 - There are 1,308 rural public transit systems in the United States and ridership in rural areas is estimated at 32.87 billion total passenger miles traveled. 2022 Public Transportation Factbook
2021 - Public transportation provides nearly 10 billion commuter, leisure, non-emergency medical and specialized trips each year. 2021 Public Transportation Factbook
2021 - 87% of trips on public transit have a direct impact on the local economy.
2021 Public Transportation Factbook
2021 - Since 1995, there has been a 28% increase in public transit ridership. 2021 Public Transportation Factbook
2021 - 99% of fixed route and 96% of demand response services are accessible. 2021 Public Transportation Factbook
2019 - A household can save nearly $10,000 by taking public transportation and living with one less car, and the overall effects save the United States 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually. 2019 Public Transportation Factbook
2019 - Home values in areas located near high-frequency public transit performed 42% better than other areas. 2019 Public Transportation Factbook
2019 - Every dollar invested in public transportation generates an economic return of $4.00. 2019 Public Transportation Factbook
2019 - 77% of Americans think public transportation is the backbone of a multi-transit lifestyle 2019 Public Transportation Factbook
2022 - The average total cost of car ownership per 15,000 miles rose from $8,487 in 2010 to $10,729 in 2022. Average Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile
2022 - Transportation employs over 14.9 million people. Transportation Statistics Annual Report
2021 - Transportation contributed $1.3 trillion (5.6%) to an enhanced U.S. Gross Domestic Product of $23.7 trillion.
Contribution of Transportation to the Economy
2019 - A $10 million investment in public transportation results in a $30 million gain in sales for local businesses. Benefits of Transit
2019 - 80% of Americans believe that increased investment in public transportation strengthens the economy, creates jobs, reduces traffic congestion and air pollution and saves energy. Benefits of Transit
2019 - An estimated 14 million Americans ride public transportation each weekday. Benefits of Transit
2019 - Public transportation produces 95% less carbon monoxide, 90% less volatile organic compounds and about 50% as much carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per mile compared to private vehicles. Benefits of Transit
2021 - A public transit, walking and biking infrastructure can reduce CO2 emissions by 25%. Health Benefits of TCI Policy Scenarios
2019 - 73% of American's believe high quality national transportation systems are important to economic prosperity and quality of life. America THINKS: The Imperative for a National Transportation Policy
2021 - Approximately 60% of transit agencies in the U.S. are contracting all or part of their operations. Contracting In Transit: The Value and Benefits of Private Contracting in North America and Internationally to Meet Passenger Needs
2023 - 46% of car owners are open to replacing their private vehicles with other modes of transport in the coming decade. The Future of Mobility
2023 - 69% of people feel that having public transit nearby is a very important or important factor in deciding where to live. National Community and Transportation Preferences Survey
2022 - Rural transit agencies provided 398.9 million miles of service and 23.4 million vehicle hours of service.
Rural Transit Fact Book
2022 - Tribal transit agencies provided 1.7 million rides. Rural Transit Fact Book
2021 - 3 to 10 trips per month could be provided to an isolated individual at a lower cost than the extra medical costs due to isolation. Research Report – An Analysis of the Costs and Benefits of Providing Increased Mobility to Reduce Social Isolation Among America's Aging Population
2021 - The difference in the percentage of workers using mass transportation to go to work between people with and without disabilities increased from 0.2 percentage points in 2019 to 0.7 percentage points in 2021. Annual Report on People with Disabilities in America: 2023
2022- Travel spending alleviates an average of $1,270 in taxes per U.S. household. Economic Impact of the U.S. Travel Industry
Updated November 16, 2023
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native language, which supports gencies in travel training and meeting Title VI
mandates. "
" Having a tool like GTFS Builder is really light years ahead of what it used to be at one time in terms of how fast you can put everything together. Our university students really can't imagine transit without it, so I think it's very important for us in terms of attracting that particular demographic. "
" In the past we used proprietary database software that was very challenging, very murky, and hard to update. GTFS Builder is a great opportunity to make this more user-friendly, more readily updatable and it
would enable us to show how to create a GTFS to more of the staff. "
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