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More Public Transportation Is Needed to Alleviate Growing Traffic Congestion
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1.1 Billion Hours Saved by Public Transportation in Travel Time for 85
Urban Areas
Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com
or Donna Aggazio (202) 496-4884 daggazio@apta.com.
(Download
document in Adobe PDF format)
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
today called for immediate passage of comprehensive long-term surface
transportation funding to provide critical relief for a worsening traffic
congestion crisis across the United States. APTA's call for more funding
came in response to the latest data released today by the Texas Transportation
Institute (TTI) that shows how transit successfully reduces traffic delays
and costs in 85 of America's urban areas.
This year's study reports that in 2002, regular bus and train services
in America's most congested cities saved travelers 1.1 billion hours in
travel time. Without public transportation, nationwide travel delays would
have increased by 32 percent, costing residents in the major urban areas
studied an additional $20 billion in lost time and fuel. The cost of congestion
in 85 major U.S. urban areas in 2002 totaled more than $63 billion. Between
1982 and 2002, the study found that travel time saved because of public
transportation increased four fold. This report clearly documents the
strong and ongoing contribution made by public transportation in lessening
the congestion that exists today.
"The TTI report gives clear evidence that public transportation
makes a strong contribution in easing the congestion problem," said
William W. Millar, APTA President, "but its availability is not keeping
keep pace with growth in congestion." He added, "This is why
we urge Congress to increase the federal investment in transit programs
as soon as possible."
TTI's Urban Mobility Study, the longest running independent analysis
of traffic has been conducted annually since 1982. Among its conclusions,
the TTI study found that the average annual delay time per peak period
traveler climbed from 16 hours in 1982 to 46 hours in 2002.
"The need for more solutions to existing traffic congestion is clearly
overdue," said Millar. "The TTI report demonstrates and details
for all who care about the condition of our nation's growing transportation
problems, that decisive action must be taken once and for all to expand
and modernize our public transportation systems."
Recent studies have shown that public transportation not only reduces
commute times, but also promotes cleaner air, local economic development,
more livable communities, and greater access and freedom for people from
every walk of life. Investing in public transportation has been shown
to produce a six to one economic return for communities. In many areas,
like Salt Lake City, San Diego, Chicago, and Houston, public transportation
has played an essential role in attracting new businesses, major events,
and accommodating millions of visitors.
Despite the wealth of benefits public transportation brings to communities
nationwide, many Americans still do not have access to service. In fact,
APTA estimates that only half of all American households have access to
readily available transit service. In small cities and rural areas, nearly
two-thirds of all residents have few if any options. In places with existing
transit service, systems are having difficulty keeping pace with the strain
created by record-high levels of riders, aging fleets and equipment, and
demands for new services. For example, the U.S. Department of Transportation
estimates that $20.6 billion in capital investment is needed each year
to improve current transit facilities.
To maintain and grow the public transportation network, APTA calls for
passage of a new Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21)
at a funding level no less than the $318 billion passed by the U.S. Senate
which includes $56.5 billion for public transportation.
For a closer look, the report is available on online at http://mobility.tamu.edu
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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more
than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems;
planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service
providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments
of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing
safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products.
Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United
States and Canada are served by APTA members.
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