HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0222.001 2008-2010
County Finance Committee, 11 AM, 5-19-09
OPPOSE Comm. 222, Bill 57
Ms. Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawaii 96721, 808-968-8965 mh(W_interpac.net
The free bus is not a free ride--but an investment. Please consider this information from the
American Public Transportation Association.
ECONOMICS
Almost $1 out of every $5 in American household budgets goes to transportation. [1]
Over 3 to 1 is the average benefit/ cost ratio for rural public transportation, according to
one study. [1]
9.7 to 1 was the benefit/ cost ratio for a transit authority running 55 buses in a non-
metropolitan area of Connecticut. The study considered costs of other modes of
transportation if there was no bus, plus "costs of foregone trips... increased accidents, air
pollution... lost operating funds and employment..." and accounted for state and local
subsidies. [1]
"Net earnings in counties with rural transit systems are 16 percent higher than counties
without transit systems especially for disabled, low-incorne and elderly persons." [11
"Businesses located near public transportation experience more employee reliability and
less absenteeism and turnover. Employers have aelarger labor pool from which to
choose..." [2]
"Real estate--residential, commercial or business--that is served by public transportation
is valued more highly by the public..." [21
Planning, and building for cars is "imposing increasingly unacceptable costs and
constraints on economic growth and development." [1]
SAFETY
Public transit has about 1/ 25th the rate of fatal accidents than cars do. [2]
"In an emergency... public transportation can literally mean a matter of life or death..."
Buses can quickly evacuate large numbers of people, and transport emergency
personnel and equipment.[2]
"Public transportation encourages economic and social activities and helps create strong
neighborhood centers that are economically stable, safe and productive... contact with
neighbors tends to increase... helping bring a community together." [2]
ENVIRONMENT
Public transportation uses about half as much oil as cars do. [2]
'Public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide... 90 percent less in
volatile organic compounds... and about half as much carbon dioxide... and nitrogen
oxide... per passenger mile, as private vehicles." [2]
Public transportation reduces "run-off from paved surfaces that degrade the water
supply" [2]
Public transportation conserves "ecologically sensitive lands and open spaces" [2]
Please support our local public transportation system-by keeping it free.
Gomm. No. ZLZ• ~
Ref. Toi
- ---Ref.-Date_ 19 2009
NOTES
[1] "Public Transportation and the Nation's Economy, "by Cambridge Systematics with Economic
Development Research Group, October 1999, from American Public Transportation Association
website
[2] American Public Transportation Association website
http://www.apta.com/researchfinfo%nlineltwenty first centurv.cfm