A study conducted by the Florida’s Urban Fixed-Route Transit Systems Department of Transportation revealed Florida’s urban fixed-route transit provided Bay County Transit (Bay Town Trolley) more than 134 million vehicle miles and its (BCT) passengers traveled more than 1.3 billion Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority () City of Tallahassee (StarMetro) passenger miles annually. (CAT) By reducing household travel costs and Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) reducing automobile trips, these services Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) Hernando County (THE Bus) BENEFITS of result in direct economic and community Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) benefits. These benefits ripple through the Indian River Transit (GoLine) URBAN transportation system and the economy and Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) are felt, directly or indirectly, by all residents Lake County Board of County Commissioners (LakeXpress) of the state­—even by those who choose Lakeland Area Mass Transit District () FIXED-ROUTE not to use transit and those who live in Lee County Transit (LeeTran) communities that do not have transit. Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) TRANSIT Martin County (Community Coach) -Dade Transit (MDT) Ocala/Marion County (SunTran) in FLORIDA Okaloosa County () Palm Beach County (PalmTran) Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) Polk County Transit Services Division Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) Regional Transportation Authority (Tri-Rail) (SCAT) St. Johns County Transit (Sunshine Bus) St. Lucie County (Treasure Coast Connector)

Research results reported here are from “Economic and Community Benefits of Urban Fixed-Route Transit in Florida,” prepared by the FDOT Transit Office.

For further information contact: Diane Quigley Office of Public Transit Florida Department of Transportation (850) 414-4520 [email protected]

OfficeCenter of Public for Transit Urban Transportation Research Florida Departmentat the University of Transportation of South Florida Tr a n s i t Be n e f i t s t h e Ec o n o m y Tr a n s i t Ca n In f l u e n c e La n d Us e Federal funds invested in Florida fixed-route transit in- a n d In c r e a s e Pr o p e r t y Va l u e s crease Florida’s annual economic output by $464 mil- Quality transit can shape development, support lion, support 4,041 jobs annually, and increase annual sustainable urban neighborhoods and increase labor income by $192 million. property values. Transit and highway users save $537 million annually Tr a n s i t In c r e a s e s Ph y s i c a l Ac t i v i t y in out-of-pocket travel costs (approximately $55 per household). These cost savings increase economic out- a n d Pr o m o t e s Go o d He a l t h put by $160 million, generate 378 jobs, and increase Transit provides travel choices for residents and labor income by $125 million. visitors alike. Fixed-route transit users walk and bike 128 minutes more per week. This makes a signifi- Tr a n s i t Im p r o v e s Tr a f f i c Sa f e t y cant contribution to meeting the minimum 150 min- Fixed-route transit reduces fatalities and injuries because utes per week of moderate to vigorous physical ac- it decreases travel in private vehicles. It is estimated that tivity recommended by the U.S. Surgeon General. this results in 66 fewer traffic fatalities (a 2.1 percent re- duction) and 2,599 fewer traffic injuries annually. Tr a n s i t Sa v e s Pe t r o l e u m Fixed-route transit is estimated to reduce en- Tr a n s i t Re d u c e s Air Po l l u t a n t s a n d ergy use by 43 million gallons of gasoline. This Gr e e n h o u s e Ga s Em m i s s i o n s is equivalent to removing 72,600 passenger ve- Fixed-route transit reduces air pollution by reducing hicles from the road annually. travel by passenger vehicles, which results in net reduc- Tr a n s i t He l p s Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n tions of 9,992 tons of carbon monoxide and 259 tons of volatile organic compounds. The reduced emission Di s a d v a n t a g e d Pr o g r a m s of CO is equivalent to removing 128,000 passenger Paratransit programs save up to $146 million an- vehicles from the roads annually. Fixed-route transit nually by being able to offer some clients dis- also reduces the emission of greenhouse gases by count fixed-route transit passes in lieu of more an estimated 254,556 tons of carbon dioxide an- expensive paratransit services. nually. This is equivalent to eliminating 52,000 pas- senger vehicles worth of annual travel. Tr a n s i t Pr o v i d e s Mo b i l i t y f o r t h e Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Di s a d v a n t a g e d Tr a n s i t Re d u c e s Tr a v e l De l a y s Fixed-route transit helps meet the mobility needs Fixed-route transit reduces travel delay from conges- of the general population that may not have pri- tion by 6.6 million hours annually. vate vehicle choices due to factors such as age, income, and physical or mental health.