April Transit Savings Report Rising Gas Prices Reinforce the Value of Public Transit

As we head toward the warmer spring weather, gas prices are inching up making public transportation an even better value. With gas prices rising 12 cents higher than this time last month, public transportation is a reliable way to save money while avoiding the daily headaches that come with driving during rush hour.

The annual savings is $9,312 for a person who switches their daily commute by car to taking public transportation, according to the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) April Transit Savings Report. Individuals who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, more than $776 per month.

These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle which includes the April 20, 2016 average national gas price ($2.11 per gallon- reported by AAA), and the national unreserved monthly parking rate numbers.

APTA releases this monthly Transit Savings Report to examine how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $166.26, according to the latest report of the 2012 Colliers International Parking Rate Study. Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,995.

The top 20 cities with the highest public transit ridership are ranked in order of their transit savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transit pass. The savings also factor in local gas prices for April 20, 2016 and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*

*Based on gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 4/20/16

Methodology

APTA calculates the average cost of taking public transit by determining the cost of the average monthly transit pass of local public transit agencies across the country. This information is based on the annual APTA fare collection survey and is weighted based on ridership (unlinked passenger trips). The assumption is that a person making a switch to public transportation would likely purchase an unlimited pass on the local public transit agency, typically available on a monthly basis.

APTA then compares the average monthly transit fare to the average cost of driving. The cost of driving is calculated using the 2015 AAA average cost of driving formula. That formula is based on variable and fixed costs. The variable costs include the cost of gas, maintenance and tires. The fixed costs include insurance, license registration, depreciation and finance charges. The comparison also uses the average mileage of a mid-size auto at 23.1 miles per gallon and the price for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline as recorded by AAA on April 20, 2016 at $2.11 per gallon. The analysis also assumes that a person will drive an average of 15,000 miles per year. The savings is based on the assumption that a person in a two-person household lives with one less car.

In determining the cost of parking, APTA uses the data from the 2012 Colliers International Parking Rate Study for monthly unreserved parking rates for the United States which is the most recent report available.