According to the just-released Transit Savings Report, San Diegans who ride public transportation instead of driving could save an average of $9,858 a year.
The Transit Savings Report, released monthly by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), calculates the average annual savings for public transit users. The report examines how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transit and living with one less car.
Also, APTA's latest Stranded at the Station report also shows how cities benefit from and need public transit.
San Diego is in the top ten U.S. cities with the highest transit ridership and commuting costs. The chart below shows the cities’ ranking order:
Top Ten Cities – Transit Savings Report
Rank |
City |
Monthly Savings |
Annual Savings |
1 |
New York |
$1,143 |
$13,719 |
2 |
Boston |
$1,025 |
$12,296 |
3 |
San Francisco |
$1,011 |
$12,131 |
4 |
Chicago |
$939 |
$11,269 |
5 |
Seattle |
$928 |
$11,136 |
6 |
Philadelphia |
$919 |
$11,029 |
7 |
Honolulu |
$877 |
$10,528 |
8 |
Los Angeles |
$835 |
$10,015 |
9 |
San Diego |
$822 |
$9,858 |
10 |
Minneapolis |
$815 |
$9,784 |
*Gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 8/7/09.
How the Results Were Calculated
APTA calculates the average cost of taking public transit by comparing the average monthly transit fare to the average cost of driving.
The average cost of driving is calculated using the 2009 AAA formula, which takes into account variable and fixed costs. The variable costs include gas, maintenance, and tires. The fixed costs include insurance, license registration, depreciation, and finance charges. The comparison uses the average mileage of a mid-size auto at 23.4 MPG and the price for self-serve regular unleaded gas at $2.628 per gallon (as recorded by AAA on August 7, 2009). The analysis also assumes that a person will drive an average of 15,000 miles per year.
In San Diego, the cost of a regional monthly pass is $72 for unlimited use of the Trolley and most MTS bus routes (or $100 to include Premium Express bus routes). A one-day pass is just $5 for unlimited use of the Trolley and most MTS bus routes (or $14 to include Premium Express bus routes). Ride transit and save! |
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Kick back, relax, and let someone else do the driving—and save money while you're at it! |
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