APTA: Public transit users save $9,472 annually

A person can save an average of $9,472 per year when using public transportation to commute instead of a car, according to the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) August Transit Savings Report — a savings of more than $789 every month.

The savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared with the cost of owning and driving a vehicle, including parking expenses and fuel prices based on current national averages. The national average cost for an unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $166.26 per month or $1,995 per year, according to the 2012 Colliers International Parking Rate Study, which is the most recent report available. The national average cost for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline is $2.66, as reported by AAA on August 18, 2015.

APTA releases a 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.