APTA Announces June Transit Savings Report

Join millions of Americans as more than 100 local public transportation systems from around the country are expected to participate in National Dump the Pump Day on June 15. New riders and savvy public transit veterans alike are encouraged to leave their cars at home and count their savings as they ride the bus or rails.

The annual savings is $9,797 for a person who switches his or her daily commute by car to taking public transportation, according to the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) June Transit Savings Report. Individuals who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, more than $816 per month.

These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle. These costs include the June 2, 2017, national average gas price ($2.38 per gallon, as reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.

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 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 June 2, 2017, and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*

*Based on gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 6/2/17