Riding Public Transit Saves Mega Bucks for Riders vs. Auto Travel

Filed Under Feature Stories, Municipal Transit, Transit Trends, Transportation Trends

More than $12,000/year in San Francisco and $9,000 in Washington, DC

Public transportation riders can save on average $9,242 annually based on the January 11, 2010 national average gas price and the national unreserved monthly parking rate. Of course, they also miss traffic jams—and when NextBus is available as in San Francisco and Washington, DC, they can travel quickly and reliably, too.

Compared to last year at this time, the average cost per gallon of gas was $1.79 which is nearly $1 less than the current price of gas at $2.75 per gallon. This increase in cost equates to an additional $600 in savings per year for transit commuters as compared to last year’s savings amount at this same time.

“The Transit Savings Report” released monthly by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) calculates the average annual and monthly savings for public transit users. The report examines how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

Transit riders can save on average $770 per month. The savings amount is based on the cost of the national averages for parking and driving, as well as the January 11 national average gas price of $2.75 per gallon for self-serve regular gasoline as reported by AAA.

Taking public transportation provides a safe and affordable way for individuals and families to cut costs, according to APTA. In addition, local public transit offers a travel option that has an immediate positive impact in reducing an individual’s overall carbon footprint while helping reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $154.23, according to the 2009 Colliers International Parking Rate Study. Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,850.

The top 20 cities with the highest transit ridership are ranked in order of their transit savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transit pass and factoring in local gas prices for January 11, 2010 and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*

Top Twenty Cities – Transit Savings Report

	City	Monthly Savings	Annual Savings
1	New York	$ 1,147	$ 13,765
2	Boston	$ 1,030	$ 12,362
3	San Francisco	$ 1,013	$ 12,156
4	Chicago	$ 946	$ 11,357
5	Seattle	$ 932	$ 11,185
6	Philadelphia	$ 927	$ 11,121
7	Honolulu	$ 887	$ 10,639
8	Los Angeles	$ 838	$ 10,052
9	San Diego	$ 824	$ 9,894
10	Minneapolis	$ 824	$ 9,884
11	Cleveland	$ 803	$ 9,639
12	Portland	$ 798	$ 9,581
13	Denver	$ 795	$ 9,539
14	Baltimore	$ 782	$ 9,383
15	Miami	$ 752	$ 9,022
16	Washington, DC	$ 751	$ 9,015
17	Dallas	$730	$ 8,756
18	Atlanta	$722	$ 8,658
19	Las Vegas	$716	$ 8,591
20	Pittsburgh	$ 680	$ 8,162