According to a report by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from transportation.

Public transportation can alleviate greenhouse gases and cut emissions significantly:

• 76% reduction for heavy rail transit such as subways and metros

• 62% reduction for light rail transit systems such as electric trolleys

• 33% reduction for bus transit

In a time where sustainable transportation practices are critical to our future, however, even environmentally-friendly citizens tend to pull out their phones and tap for a ride-sharing service, such as Uber or Lyft, instead of taking a bus or subway.

As cities struggle to popularize public transit, ride-sharing services put an even-greater strain on busy streets, creating more congestion and carbon emissions than ever before.

In this article, we show you how public transportation benefits cities, and what cities can do to make their public transit systems thrive.

How Public Transit Benefits Cities in the U.S.

Successful public transit systems benefit citizens, the economy, and the environment.

At a human level, public transportation provides advantages that make cities more attractive places to live, providing:

• Mobility for people who do not, or cannot, own a vehicle

• Convenience for auto owners who prefer to avoid driving in heavy traffic

• Easier daily commute for many office workers

• Overall cost savings for taxpayers

Nearly 50% of businesses are located near public transportation, according to recent research from Clutch.

Access to public transit gives businesses a hiring advantage since they are more likely to attract top talent if people can commute to work on a train, rail, or bus.

Public transportation also increases business sales and residential property values for homes and businesses located near transportation systems. These advantages contribute an average of $1.8 billion annually to cities with high-frequency public transit.

According to the FTA, public transportation means better air quality and reduced carbon emissions and greenhouse gases for the city:

• Most rail systems emit little to no carbon emissions since they run on electricity.

• Many buses use alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, or fuel cells.

• Buses traditionally fueled by diesel are getting converted to hybrid- or bio-diesel.

Extensive use of public transportation can make cities more sustainable and have a significant impact on environmental health.

Despite the economic and environmental advantages of public transit, many cities struggle to fund transportation projects, while others build entire transit systems that very few people ever use.

Understanding what causes transportation systems to succeed is critical to cities considering transit development.

What Makes Public Transit Systems Successful

According to a 2019 study by WalletHub, the top three transportation systems in the U.S. are:

1. Seattle

2. Boston

3. San Francisco

Seattle, recognized by many publications as the best public transit system in the country, links its rail system and bus line together to create one comprehensive, efficient system for travelers.

While many systems throughout the country are declining in ridership, Seattle’s public transit system is flourishing for several reasons:

• Dedicated transit corridors: Portions of the city’s roadways are blocked off to cars during rush hours and converted to transit-only corridors. This allows buses to move quicker and alternate pickup patterns for more efficient service.

• Frequent scheduling and quick routes: Seattle identifies problem areas that slow buses down and finds ways to fix the issues, such as creating transit-only lanes in heavily congested areas.

• Advocacy and communication with residents create allies for the city transit system. By offering a pleasant and reliable transit experience for everyone, voters consider public transportation a personal benefit, voting to fund expansion despite increased sales and car taxes.

Overall, successful public transit systems tend to run through dense areas, provide synced connections, and offer fast and efficient services.

The critical factor to the success of thriving public transit systems is planning routes mapped to denser parts of the city where public transportation creates a significant advantage for the largest group of people.

Sustainable Public Transit Adds to City Appeal and Environmental Health

Public transportation benefits cities economically and environmentally, but only a few cities in the U.S. are successful in getting residents to use buses, trains, and rails instead of ride-sharing services or cars.

Planning public transit that services dense areas, ensuring frequent and fast routes, and advocating public transit to residents significantly contributes to a successful public transit system.

About the Author: Grayson Kemper is a Content and Editorial Manager for Clutch, a B2B research, ratings, and review company in Washington, D.C.