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News from King County Department of Transportation
Release date:
April 16, 2007
Green reasons for riding Metro
Thinking about getting out
of your car and onto public transportation? Consider these facts:
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Americans living in areas served by public transportation save $18
billion annually in congestion costs.
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Transit riders also save about $1,400 in gas per year.
-
Transit availability can reduce the need for an additional car, a
yearly expense of $6,251 in a household budget.
- For
every dollar earned, the average household spends 18 cents on
transportation, 94 percent of which is for buying, maintaining and
operating cars.
- Public
transportation consumes an average of one-half the oil consumed by
the typical automotive user.
- Public
transportation in Seattle annually saved travelers 6 million hours
in travel time and $566 million in fuel and time costs.
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Emissions from road vehicles are the largest contributors to smog.
- Public
transportation produced 95 percent less carbon monoxide (Co) 90
percent less in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and about half as
much carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) per passenger
mile, as private vehicles.
- Riders
who focused on saving fuel discovered other benefits of taking
public transportation, such as avoiding traffic jams and reading or
relaxing while traveling.
- Public
transportation has lower accident rates than automobiles. Public
transit has 0.03 fatal accidents per 100 million miles, about 1/25th
the rate for automobiles; injuries as well as fatalities are
reduced.
- Public
transportation fosters a more active lifestyle. Walking to and from
transit helps inactive persons attain a significant portion of
recommended minimum daily exercise they need.
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Public transportation fosters more livable communities; encourages
neighborhood interaction. Contact with neighbors tends to increase,
ultimately helping to bring a community together. Transit friendly
communities also promote more physical activity.
*Public Transportation: Benefits for the 21st Century,
2007, American Public Transportation Association.
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