The Philadelphia region is experiencing increased demand for public transportation
Nationwide, Americans took 10.4 billion trips on public transportation in 2016. In greater Philadelphia, more than three in four people (78 percent) chose to use public transportation instead of driving in the past 12 months, according to “Public Transportation in the Philadelphia Region 2017,” an HNTB America THINKS public opinion survey conducted in early 2017.
Philadelphians cite key reasons for choosing public transportation over their automobiles: avoiding congestion (43 percent), convenience (33 percent) and the ability to save money (30 percent).
Like many other American cities, Philadelphia is experiencing increased demand for public transportation, especially rail transit, both within the city and to and from suburban areas. Today, about 330 million people ride SEPTA and more than 10 million ride PATCO trains each year.
Discussions around expanding public transit often focus on reducing traffic congestion. But public transportation networks accomplish even more by enhancing environmental wellness and economic development, as well as residents’ quality of life.
Environmental benefits
Twenty-seven percent of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 were attributable to transportation, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Increasing public transit use reduces the number of cars on the road and the time commuters sit in idling vehicles, improving local air quality.
Public transportation in the United States also saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline each year, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Economic development benefits
Successful public transportation projects inspire and anchor transit-oriented development. Residential and business space, shopping, dining and other amenities spring up around these systems, creating economically and socially vibrant, sustainable communities that generate jobs for workers and income for local businesses. Thirty-five percent of people in the Philadelphia region say their interest in living near public transportation has increased in the past five years. Among millennials, this desire has increased 52 percent. These statistics for our region far exceed the national averages of 21 percent and 27 percent, respectively.
By fostering higher-density development, public transit also conserves land, makes it easier and more cost-effective for businesses to move goods and improves people’s access to work, school and services. The economic value of expanded public transit is huge: APTA reports that every dollar invested in public transportation returns approximately $4, and a 2013 study noted public transportation’s value could be between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion per year, depending on the size of the city.
Among public transit riders in the Philadelphia area, HNTB’s survey found 76 percent could be encouraged to increase their use of public transportation. Among millennials, the number was 87 percent. Respondents identified more-frequently scheduled service and stations located closer to home as the top two incentives that would make them more inclined to use public transit.
Philadelphia’s public transportation systems are vitally important. Residents of all ages, especially millennials, appreciate the value and convenience public transportation delivers. Further investment will improve the environment, strengthen the city’s long-term economic health and make the region an even better place to live.
For more information, contact:
Agnes Huff, Agnes Huff Communications
[email protected]; (310) 641-2525