Metrolink: General Information

• Public transit is saving 6.9 million tons of net carbon dioxide emissions per year (based on 2005 figures) and 400,000 tons of other green house gases.
• A solo commuter that switches from a car to public transit reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 4,800 lbs per year.
• A household can reduce their carbon footprint by 25%-30% if one person makes the switch from a commute via car to a commute by public transit.
• Public transit produces 95% less carbon monoxide, 90% less in volatile organic compounds, and about half as much nitrogen oxide per passenger mile as a private vehicle.
• Energy related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82% of total human made greenhouse emissions. Using public transit can lower this number significantly.
• Public transit saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline annually, representing 4 million gallons of gasoline per day, the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill ups per day.

• Americans living in areas with public transit save $18 million annually in congestion costs.
• In 2005, Americans took 9.7 billion trips on public transit- 15x the amount taken on domestic airlines.
• From 1995-2005, public transit ridership increased by 25% and highway use increased by 22% in the same period.
• According to the Texas Transportation Institute, in the top 85 American cities, congestion caused 3.7 billion hours of travel delay and 2.3 billion gallons of wasted fuel.
• In 2003, Texas Transportation Institute found that annual delay per traveler climbed from 16 hours in 1982 to 47 hours in 2003.
• Without public transit travel delays would have increased by a further 27%.

• For every dollar earned, 18 cents (or 18 percent) is spent on transportation, but 94% of that is on your car. Using public transit can reduce this amount greatly.
• Public transit riders can save up to $1,400 per year in gasoline costs.
• Public transit can reduce the need for an additional car, an average yearly expense of $6,251.
• $1 billion dollars of capital investment in public transit creates 47,500 jobs.
• Every $10 million in capital investment for public transit yields $30 million in business sales.
• Living near public transit had obvious benefits to the local economy: House prices in San Francisco and Dallas that were close to public transit were 17% and 13% higher, respectively, when they were located close to public transit.
• Public transit promotes investment and development around transit stops. (See Transit oriented development)
• Transit oriented development has reached $6 billion in Portland, Oregon, and $4 billion in Los Angeles, California, to name specific examples.

• Public transit can play a role in creating a healthier nation.
• Public transit fosters a more active lifestyle, encouraging more people to walk, bike and jog to transit stops.
• Be sure to sign up for our Ten Toes express program to track your own health benefits from walking and using public transit! http://cmt-stl.org/tentoes/ten_toes.html

• Creates safe neighborhoods, elderly mobility, young mobility
• Terror and disaster evacuation is easier with public transit
• Delivers essential Health and Human services.