APTA Calls for $15 Billion Investment in Public Transportation

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently called upon the US Congress to invest at least $15 billion in public transportation to support and create hundreds of thousands of jobs and stimulate the economy. APTA just completed a survey of transit services nationwide and identified nearly $15 billion in capital transit projects that can be started in 90 days. APTA estimates this investment would support and create more than 450,000 jobs. The survey also found that the majority of US transit agencies need more than the recommended $15 billion to avoid employee layoffs and service cuts. To date, nearly 90% of the nearly $12 billion designated for transit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have been obligated.

According to the recently released "Economic Impact of Public Transportation Investment", a report completed by the Economic Development Research Group in the Fall of 2009, the benefits of public transit investment can be quantified such that for $1 invested in public transportation, an average of $4 is generated in economic returns. Roughly $3.6 billion of business sales and nearly $500 million in federal, state, and local tax revenue are generated annually by public transportation investment.

Outside of direct employment, US transit agencies sustain a large amount of the total workforce. Consider these statistics APTA observed in 2008 transit ridership:

- In 2008, Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation
- 35 million times each weekday, people boarded public transportation
- Public transportation is a $48.4 billion industry that employs more than 380,000 people

For those interested in the Economic Development Research Group's study, click here

Posted by Ryan Jeroski, GVF