By Kevin Pula and Douglas Shinkle
14.2 billion dollars ... 10.8 billion trips ... 2,518 American transit systems ... 74 percent public support
Those are a few of the numbers you’ll find in NCSL’s new report, On Track: How States Fund and Support Public Transportation. This one-of-a-kind report examines the role of state legislatures in funding and supporting public transportation projects.
The role states and particularly state legislatures play in supporting and funding public transportation typically is not a well-understood dynamic.
This report highlights many successful state efforts to provide high-quality transit options. Along with expert analysis, the report includes in-depth case studies and state highlights about recent efforts to enhance public transportation networks, as well as insight from key state lawmakers.
The case studies examine a number of transit projects that would not have been possible without state legislative involvement, including:
- New Mexico’s ambitious and politically contentious commuter rail line.
- A popular new streetcar line in Tucson, Ariz.
- California’s carbon cap-and-trade program, which is paying big dividends for transit projects
- Efforts to connect Indiana residents with the greater Chicagoland area.
- How states are helping transit riders solve the vexing “last-mile” problem.
Americans across the country see public transportation as an important public good and a benefit to their cities, municipalities and communities.
Recent surveys have demonstrated the value of transit to the general public. The American Public Transportation Association found that 74 percent of respondents agreed that tax dollars should be used on public transportation. Millennials not only report wanting to live in urban areas, but younger people (under 30) are twice as likely to use transit regularly as those in the 30-60 demographic, and use transit at six times the rate of the oldest Americans.
Just this week, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report shedding light on how American’s commute to work. In recent years, vehicle-miles traveled have leveled off nationally and single-occupancy vehicle commuting has decreased.
The percentage of Americans who commuted to work by public transportation increased a small amount over the time period studied, from 4.8 percent in 2006 to 5.2 percent in 2013.
In part because of the options and flexibility provided by public transportation, single-occupancy vehicle commuting is the lowest in urban centers and principal cities. The new census report also notes that “the extent to which today’s young workers will retain their travel habits as they age will be an important determinant of future travel patterns.”
While the personal automobile is still the undisputed heavyweight in the average American’s transportation equation, some trends are pointing toward a more multi-modal future.
Kevin Pula is a policy associate with NCSL’s Environment, Energy and Transportation program.
Email Kevin
Douglas Shinkle is a program principal with NCSL’s Environment, Energy and Transportation program.
Email Douglas
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