Many Americans in the United States use public transportation daily. In 2017 alone, there were over 10.1 billion trips taken on public transportation. Public transportation ridership has increased 30% since 1995. Public transportation has a positive economic impact on the community and is a safer and cheaper alternative to cars. Public transportation also reduces the carbon footprint in the environment.
For every $1 invested in public transportation, it generates $4 in economic returns. Also, for every $1 billion invested in public transportation, 50,000 jobs are created. When you travel by public transportation, intercity rail is 20 times safer than driving, light rail is 30 times safer and the bus is 60 times safer. By taking public transit, a household reduces the use of one car and saves about $10,000 a year.
The United States saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline per year because of public transportation. If a person who commuting by car switches to using public transit, they can reduce their annual carbon emissions by 4,800 pounds per year.
