Free Public Transit: November 8, Americans can vote $200 billion for #publictransit

Friday, September 2, 2016

November 8, Americans can vote $200 billion for #publictransit

Mass Transit: "A media press call on transit ballot initiatives will be held on Monday, September 12 from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. PDT. This year on November 8, nearly $200 billion in public transit referendums will be held. In Los Angeles, if Measure R is passed, $98 billion for public transit will be available over 30 years. In Seattle, $54 billion for public transportation is at stake; in Atlanta, $2.5 billion for public transit is up for a vote. Reporters are welcome to come in person or listen by phone. Representatives of public transportation agencies from Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, San Jose, and Columbus, OH will discuss their local ballot initiatives. Contact Virginia Miller at vmiller@apta.com, if you are interested in attending in person or by phone."

Free is Cheaper

How is free transit cheaper? Don't you have to make up for lost fare revenue? The answer is that your city will save so much money in other areas, and quality of life will improve so much that you will get back much more than the lost fares. Some examples are listed below. If you want to see specific numbers, see our spreadsheet here.

Increased return on investment. Public transit involves large fixed costs. When fares are gone, there are more riders per vehicle, getting more value from the investment.
Reduced parking costs. With free transit, fewer people will park downtown. City parking authorities can cost $180 million a year, paid by fines, which are just a tax on customers and delivery services.

Reduced traffic congestion. Studies have shown that the time lost in traffic costs urban economies hundreds of millions of dollars.
Less money exported for gasoline. A medium sized city can export 1 million dollars a day in gasoline money for cars. Free buses will reduce this considerably.
Better quality of life, priceless. In Hasselt, Belgium, when fares were removed, people in hospital started receiving more visitors.