The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) release its 2021 Public Transportation Fact Book.

The fact book includes national aggregate statistical data in the U.S. and Canada. It also contains transit facts, transit finances, operating statistics by modes of travel, transit vehicle characteristics and deliveries, and numbers relating to federal grants and the Federal Transit Act.

“As the information in our annual Fact Book shows, investing in public transit will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality and public health, and help transform our nation’s transportation network for a sustainable future,” said APTA president and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas.  “Public transportation creates access to opportunities, including jobs, health care, and education, which can help our communities address the equity challenges that they face.”

Some statistics from the fact book include:

• Long-term investment in public transit supports 50,000 jobs and $382 million in tax revenue per $1 billion invested

• 87% of trips on transit directly benefit the local economy

• 6.0 billion gallons of gas saved each year by using public transportation

• Cities with more than 40 annual public transit trips per person have one-half the traffic fatality rate of those with fewer than 20 trips per person

“The entire industry will continue working with Congress and the Administration to capitalize on this opportunity to provide the public transportation investments necessary to address our nation’s climate and equity challenges and build back better,” Skoutelas said.

A PDF version of the fact book can be found here.