Transit Savings Report

Soaring Gas Prices Take Transit Savings to Highest Level of the Year
Commuters Look to “Dump the Pump” on June 21 and Try Public Transit

Washington, D.C. – Gasoline prices are on the rise, which sets the stage for more people to participate in this year’s annual Dump the Pump Day on June 21. Public transportation agencies nationwide including the Butler Transit Authority will be encouraging commuters in their community to try public transit to avoid high gas prices.

The average annual savings for the Pittsburgh area is $10,053 for a person who switches his or her daily commute from driving to taking public transportation, according to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) June Transit Savings Report. This is the highest transit savings recorded this year. Individuals who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, more than $838 per month.

These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle. Driving costs include the June 6, 2018, national average gas price ($2.94 per gallon, as reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.

APTA releases this monthly Transit Savings Report to examine how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one fewer car.

The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $166.26, according to the latest report of the Colliers International Parking Rate Study. Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,995.

To calculate your individual savings, with or without car ownership, go to www.publictransportation.org.