73% of Americans support spending on public transportation, says report
The survey, conducted by APTA and the Mineta Institute, reflects a continuation of a multi-year trend where nearly three-quarters of Americans consistently support increased investment in public transportation.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA), in conjunction with the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), released the results of a recent poll, which underscores the public's support for expanded access to public transportation. Its analysis shows that more than 73% percent of Americans support using tax dollars to create, expand and improve public transportation in their communities.
Slightly less (nearly 73%) believe Congress should increase the level of federal spending on public transportation infrastructure. The survey reflects a continuation of a multi-year trend where nearly three-quarters of Americans consistently support increased investment in public transportation.
Ad Loading...
"Both of the presidential candidates are talking about the need for infrastructure investment to meet a growing demand from the public," said APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall. "This poll shows that American voters understand that an investment in public transit is a vital part of our national infrastructure."
APTA noted that the candidates are focusing on infrastructure investment, including public transportation, because it significantly impacts the middle class both in providing jobs and creating access to jobs. For instance, every $1 billion invested in public transit creates more than 50,000 jobs. In addition, every dollar invested in public transportation generates $4 in economic returns.
"We appreciate that the candidates have acknowledged the important need for public transit infrastructure investment," said APTA Acting President and CEO Richard A. White. "Congress and the Administration took a good first step last December as they authorized long-term surface transportation investment that included public transit. However, we must address the public transit industry's $86 billion backlog of state of good repair needs. In addition, it is essential we continue to expand public transportation because a robust system creates jobs and helps our communities grow."
APTA leaders say this strong public support could also bode well when Americans go to the polls on Nov. 8 and have the opportunity to vote to boost public transit funding through 27 state and local ballot initiatives across the country. This could result in nearly $200 billion in new investment for public transportation.
The Mineta Institute and APTA survey also highlights the public's support for the value public transportation adds to communities across the country:
Nearly 82% agreed that public transportation provides an affordable way for people to get around.
84% of the respondents said public transportation provides people with vital connections to important resources like jobs, schools and medical facilities.
Roughly 80% said that public transportation connects people to jobs, and thus helps to fuel economic growth and development.
67% of those surveyed stated that public transportation creates a cleaner environment and reduces carbon emissions.
"As a nation, we have neglected our public transportation infrastructure for decades and many public transit systems are playing catch up," said White. "The time has come for strong decisive action. We must address the industry's tremendous maintenance backlog. There is a need to invest $43 billion a year as opposed to the $17 billion we currently receive to expand, improve and upkeep our public transit infrastructure. This strong investment will be crucial as we address the projected explosion of population growth in our cities and suburbs. We look forward to working with the Administration, Congress and local elected leaders to tackle the chronic underfunding of investment in our nation's crumbling transportation infrastructure."
MTI conducted 1,503 telephone interviews with individuals across the U.S. The margin of error for the total sample is ± 2.53 percentage points, at the 95% confidence level. Smaller sub-groups will have larger margins of error.
METRO’s People Movement highlights the latest leadership changes, promotions, and personnel news across the public transit, motorcoach, and people mobility sectors.
BART began offering select parking lots to non-BART riders to generate new revenue to help address its FY27 $376M operating budget deficit brought on by remote work.
Drawing on decades of industry experience, Evans-Benson offered insights into the differences between the two, along with tips for better customer engagement and more.
The renewals include continued operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida; the PRTC in Virginia; and RTC Washoe in Nevada.
The governor’s proposed auto insurance reforms could save the agency $48 million annually by limiting payouts in crashes where buses are not primarily at fault.
What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.
In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.
Amanda Wanke, who has worked at DART for 10 years, including the past 2½ years as CEO, will join Metro Transit as deputy chief operating officer, operations administration.
