ON HOW PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVES AND BENEFITS U.S. COMMUNITIES
*******
SUBMITTED BY
American Public Transportation Association
1666 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 496-4800
APTA is a nonprofit international association of over 1,400 public and
private member organizations including transit systems and commuter rail operators;
planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic
institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. APTA members
serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and
products. Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States
and Canada are served by APTA members.
Introduction
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) appreciates the
opportunity to testify on how public transportation serves and benefits U.S. communities.
APTA's 1,400 public and private member organizations serve the public
by providing safe, efficient, and economical public transportation service, and by working
to ensure that those services and products support national energy, environmental,
community, and economic goals. APTA member organizations include transit systems and
commuter railroads; design, construction, and finance firms; product and service
providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of
transportation. More than ninety percent of the people who use public transportation in
the U.S. and Canada are served by APTA member systems.
Public Transportation and its Rebirth in America
Through improved mobility, safety, security, economic opportunity, and
environmental quality, public transportation benefits every segment of American
society—individuals, families, businesses, industries, and communities—and
supports important national goals and policies. Public transportation is taking on an
increasingly important role in America’s multimodal transportation network, and
federal investment is critical to fulfilling that role. During the past five years,
increased investment in the federal transit program, authorized and guaranteed under the
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21), has been the key to the public
transportation industry’s ability to address mobility issues around the country. We
appreciate what the legislation, and its reliable and predictable annual funding, has
meant for our industry and the millions of Americans who rely on our services. Whether
it’s expanded personal mobility choices or a myriad economic and commercial returns
or cleaner air, all Americans receive the benefits of public transportation investment.
Public Transportation Ridership is at Record Levels
Of all TEA 21’s tangible results, none is more evident than its
impact on transit ridership. More and more people are choosing to use public
transportation every day, and the numbers speak for themselves. Thanks in large part to
Congress' investment in the federal transit program, public transportation is experiencing
a renaissance. Americans used public transportation a record 9.5 billion times in 2001,
and transit ridership has grown 23% since 1995. This represents the highest level in more
than 40 years. Over the last six years, transit use has grown faster than the population
(8.4%), highway use (14.7%), and domestic air travel (12.5%; 19% prior to 9-11-01).
Although the 2001 transit ridership numbers will not be finalized until later this month,
preliminary indications are that, despite the economic downturn, transit ridership
continued its upward climb with 2% growth over 2000 levels.
This ridership growth can be tied to TEA 21, which has brought specific
improvements to transit infrastructure. For example, since 1997 the average age of buses
has fallen from 8.7 years to 6.9 years; of light rail vehicles, from 21.8 years to 17.9
years; and of vanpool vehicles, from 3.3 years to 2.3 years. And communities around the
country are responding. There have been favorable referenda on transit in California;
Pierce County, Washington; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Washington; Toledo, Ohio;
Providence, Rhode Island; King County, Washington; Houston, Texas; Glendale, Arizona; and
in Portage County, Ohio, and on and on around the country.
The nation’s mayors also recognize the growing demand for public
transportation. In February, at a meeting of more than 300 mayors from across the country,
a survey was released that showed that 80 percent of respondents agreed that the idea of
building light rail is a viable alternative to driving.
Investment In Public Transportation Shows Results
The record ridership increases are a direct result of the increased
federal investment in transit. TEA 21 authorized $41 billion for public transportation,
and guaranteed $36 billion, a significant increase over the previous funding. The transit
funding guarantees have been instrumental in ensuring that transit funding has increased
as intended by TEA 21. Since the federal transit program is now primarily a capital
investment program, the predictability and reliability of guaranteed funding has been a
critical asset for transit agencies in developing long-term-capital plans. It lets them
operate in a businesslike fashion, and the private markets are much more interested in
public/private innovative investment plans with an assured level of federal funding.
The additional TEA 21 transit and highway investments have been put to
work wisely and expeditiously on an existing array of sophisticated transportation
improvements. Funds have been allocated nationwide for bus capital; modernization,
upgrade, and replacement of capital facilities; rural public transportation; and
specialized services for elderly persons and people with disabilities. Nearly 200 new or
expanded rail or bus or rapid transit projects were authorized under TEA 21 for 88 areas
in more than 40 states.
The Benefits Of Public Transportation
To better demonstrate the many benefits of transit, APTA and Cambridge
Systematics published "The Benefits of Public Transportation: An Overview,"
a report which we are pleased to submit for the record. Let me highlight the report’s
findings.
Links to National Goals and Policies
The report identifies transit’s links to national goals and
policies. Public transportation helps lead the nation toward its goals and policies of
protecting the environment, conserving energy, and providing for the health, safety, and
security of its citizens.
Emissions from road vehicles are the largest contributors to smog. High
smog levels result in some 159,000 trips to emergency rooms, 53,000 hospital admissions,
and 6,000,000 asthma attacks each summer. The good news is that transit use can help
reduce the gases that cause smog. Public transportation saves 1,500 million gallons in
auto fuel consumption each year. In fact, for every 10,000 solo commuters who leave their
cars at home and commute on existing transit for one year, the nation reduces fuel
consumption by 2.7 million gallons.
Transit systems provide safe and secure mobility. The National Safety
Council estimates that riding the bus is over 170 times safer than automobile travel. If
the nation’s roadway users had the same accident rate as buses, 21,000 motorist lives
would be saved annually in collision accidents alone. New visual, voice, and data
communications systems also provide more security than roadways. In fact, many transit
systems now formally serve as safe havens for children and students moving throughout
communities in the U.S.
Increased Resiliency and Redundancy – Helping in Emergencies
Security has been a priority for public transportation operators for
many years. One of the best illustrations of this occurred during the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. On September 11, citizens in New York and Washington relied on public
transportation as the mode of choice to evacuate from the urban core. In New York,
millions of commuters were evacuated quickly and without injury on the area buses,
subways, commuter trains, and ferries. Here in Washington, the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Authority proved its value as a regional evacuation system running the
equivalent of two rush hours back-to-back and moving thousands of citizens out of
harm’s way. This same story was true all across the country as transit systems helped
evacuate citizens from closed airports and center cites. We have a report in this regard,
"America Under Threat: Transit Responds to Terrorism," which we are pleased
to submit for the record.
The availability of public transportation has also been critical in
times of natural disaster and emergency. Public transportation systems in North Carolina
transported volunteers, evacuated residents, and raised funds across the state for victims
of Hurricane Floyd in 1999. In Flint, Michigan, transit helped evacuate a senior
citizens’ complex following a gas explosion. In 1998, public transportation brought
firefighters to wildfires in Florida and evacuated tornado victims in Nashville,
Tennessee. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, San Francisco’s BART system
supported commuters and the regional economy after the collapse and reconstruction of
major road segments.
Benefits for Individuals and Families
In community after community, public transportation is making a real
difference in the daily lives of individuals and households. Public transportation takes
cars off the road, reducing road congestion and travel time for commuters. It is estimated
that transit amounts to 60 cars for a full bus, 12 cars for a full van, and up to 200 cars
for a full commuter rail car. Urban commuters spent an average of 36 hours—nearly 5
work days—in traffic delays in 1999. In the 68 urban areas it studied, the Texas
Transportation Institute found that one-third of daily travel occurs under congested
conditions.
Public transportation enhances economic opportunity by lowering
household expenses and freeing up more income for other needs. For each dollar earned, the
average household spends 18 cents on transportation, 98% of which is for buying,
maintaining, and operating cars; the largest source of household debt after mortgages. In
contrast, riders on the 80-mile Altamont Commuter Express train save over $2,500
annually—$2,688 by train compared to $5,282 by car. Americans living in
transit-intensive metropolitan areas save $22 billion annually in transportation
costs—savings enough to buy four-year public college educations for half a million
students. Savings add up for everyone: every $10 million invested in public transportation
saves more than $15 million annually, for both highway and transit users.
Benefits to Business and Industry
More than ever before, public transportation is an essential element
for maintaining a vibrant business community and economic climate. U.S. businesses benefit
through direct revenues, workforce improvements, and other related savings. Every $10
million invested in transit capital projects yields $30 million in business sales, and the
same investment in transit operations produces $32 million. Employers are taking advantage
of the expanded labor pool that public transportation provides. Employers are choosing to
house their operations in transit-friendly locations, like BellSouth in Atlanta, which is
consolidating all of its suburban offices into downtown locations, close to MARTA.
Traffic congestion causes an annual loss of $40 billion to U.S.
businesses. Without transit, that loss would rise by an additional $14.8 billion per year.
Businesses tied to public transportation are experiencing more employee reliability and
less absenteeism and turnover. They also save on employee time lost to delay, accident,
and injury on the road. In 2000, there were 23.8 million accidents involving passenger
cars, light trucks, and SUVs; motor vehicle injuries resulted in the loss of $71.5 billion
in wages and productivity. In addition, businesses in transit-intensive areas save on land
required for parking and its associated costs.
Benefits for Communities and Local Governments
Increased congestion on the roadways threatens the economic future and
the quality of life for urban residents. According to a recent study, public
transportation use reduces roadway-related costs—traffic enforcement, emergency
services, right-of-way acquisition—by an estimated $1 billion to $1.7 billion per
year. The $32 billion U.S. public transportation industry generates up to a 6-to-1 net
return on investment—which translates into higher revenues for cities and states.
Transit means jobs, too. Every $10 million invested in public transportation capital
projects generates over 300 jobs, and the same amount invested in operations generates 600
jobs.
APTA has produced a publication, "Public Transportation Means
Business," which highlights the significant economic benefits of transit
investment. The report illustrates how investment in transit sparks an economic chain
reaction that generates business activity, creates jobs, boosts property values and tax
earnings, maximizes transportation spending, and gets people to work. We would also like
to submit that report for the record.
Benefits for Public Programs and Community Services
Public transportation produces savings in public programs such as
education, human services, and healthcare. Transit is helping the education system, as
well, by expanding access and reducing auto-related expenditures for students of all ages.
Transit agencies and educational institutions—in Madison, Wisconsin; Wakegan,
Illinois; and Flint, Michigan, for example—have established cost-saving partnerships.
By the year 2020, 40% of the U.S. population will be senior citizens, many of whom will be
unable to drive. Meeting the mobility needs of America’s growing senior population,
transit serves as a lifeline to family, friends, and a changing society. Transportation
options are a vital link for citizens with disabilities, and the public transportation
industry, with more than 86% of its buses fully accessible, is proud to serve in that
capacity.
The availability of public transportation can reduce costs associated
with healthcare, like duplicated paratransit, EMS, and ambulance services. In Dade County,
Florida, the Medicaid Metropass program gives Medicaid clients a pass for unlimited travel
for $1 a month to meet their medical and non-medical needs. The program saves the Dade
County Medicaid agency over $600,000 each month—a total savings of $60 million since
its inception in 1993. This successful program is a model for other communities, and
serves about 5,000 citizens each month, with nearly 63,000 customers in fiscal year 2001.
Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
Employees and business owners alike benefit from the Job Access and
Reverse Commute (JARC) Program grants issued by the Federal Transit Administration. JARC
brings new jobs together with eligible employees who would not otherwise have access to
the plants and offices where those jobs are located. By giving welfare recipients the
freedom of mobility and opportunity of employment, employers can reach new labor pools and
low-income persons can gain greater financial independence for themselves and their
families.
Benefits for Small Urban and Rural Areas
While its broad-based benefits are most obvious in metropolitan
America, public transportation is equally important to the nation’s small urban and
rural areas. In the last three years alone, ridership has jumped 15%. Nearly 10% of all
small urban households are without a car, and park-and-ride lots, intermodal facilities,
and dial-a-ride services give those persons a new lease on personal mobility. Public
transportation is equally important to rural America, where 40% of residents have no
access to transit services and another 28% have negligible access. Transportation service
is also vital for rural America’s 30 million non-drivers, who include senior
citizens, low-income families, and persons with disabilities.
Increased Public Transportation Infrastructure Investment Is Needed
As noted, Mr. Chairman, public transportation delivers significant
benefits and transit ridership is up. Even though highway and transit investment has
increased, transportation experts agree that our annual capital investments still fail to
keep pace with the increasing needs for public transportation. Transit industry needs, for
capital, planning, and research will average $42 billion per year, between FY 2004 through
FY 2009, according to a recent APTA Transit Needs Synthesis Report summarized in the
following table.
Summary of Needs From Prior Studies from All Levels of Government
Category of Need
and Source |
Amounts Reported
in Studies |
Amounts in
Projected FY 2003 Dollars |
Year of Study |
Annual Average (Billions) |
FY 2004 - FY 2009 Total
(Billions) |
Annual Average (Billions) |
FY 2004 - FY 2009 Total
(Billions) |
| New Starts, Based on FTA Report |
2001 |
11.57 |
69.40 |
12.38 |
74.30 |
| Fixed-Guideway Modernization, Based on FTA
Report |
2000 |
5.37 |
32.21 |
6.26 |
37.52 |
| Bus and Bus Equipment, APTA Report |
2000 |
6.55 |
39.28 |
7.43 |
44.56 |
| Core Capacity, APTA Rail Transit CEOs
Subcommittee Survey |
2001 |
6.12 |
36.70 |
6.46 |
38.75 |
| Incremental Needs of Small Transit Intensive
Cities, Based on FTA Report |
2000 |
0.05 |
0.30 |
0.06 |
0.37 |
| Rural and Small UZA Needs, Based on CTAA
Report |
2001 |
2.80 |
16.80 |
2.80 |
16.80 |
| Other Needs Eligible for Federal Funding, APTA
Estimate |
2002 |
6.75 |
40.51 |
6.75 |
40.51 |
| Total Needs |
--- |
39.21 |
235.20 |
42.14 |
252.81 |
The report summarizes existing needs estimates from APTA, the Federal
Transit Administration, and the Community Transportation Association of America. While the
$42 billion estimate reflects potential investments in an unconstrained environment, it is
clear that the demand for investment in new rail starts, buses and related facilities,
rail modernization, core capacity improvements, preventive maintenance, paratransit, and
other needs is substantial.
Conclusion
Mr. Chairman, Americans are enjoying the benefits of public
transportation, brought about by TEA 21 investments, as demonstrated by the record
ridership levels. Transit reaches out to all of America’s communities, large and
small, and all of Americans’ diverse lifestyles, providing freedom and mobility for
citizens across the country. The public transportation renaissance is a critical part of
America’s future, providing more capacity, creating more choices, and helping address
the needs of a growing and evolving population. Public transportation delivers an enormous
return on the federal investment, as you can see.
APTA appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony on the benefits of
public transportation. We would be pleased to provide additional information to assist you
in your deliberations.
Some of these pages may include links to documents in the Adobe PDF format. Please download the Adobe PDF reader if you have not already done so.
