Public Transit Backgrounder
AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS
- More than 12 million Canadians use transit. Together, they take 1.5 billion trips by transit each year.
- 11,805 buses and 1,431 subway, 531commuter rail cars and 521 light rail vehicles transport Canadian residents every year.
- 15.7 billion passenger kilometres are covered by public transit in Canada each year.
MOBILITY AND FREEDOM
- According to recent polls, 52% of Canadians in urban areas use transit at least some of the time, while 30% use it regularly. In large urban areas, 67% use transit, while 40% use it regularly.
- About 2.3 million Canadians aged 55 and over rely on public transit for activities like running errands, visiting friends and getting to medical appointments.
- More than 200,000 Canadians are registered users of specialized transit for the disabled.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
- $3.42 - The average round-trip fare on Canadian public transit.
- $586 - The average monthly amount a family living in an area with many public transit options saves on auto expenses.
- $522-$719 - The estimated yearly amount a person with a 32-kilometre round-trip commute to work saves on gas when they choose to ride public transit (based on a car getting 9 kilometres per litre and $0.56/litre average price of gas).
- The amount of new investment needed to maintain Canada's public transit system = $6.8 billion over the next five years to maintain the system, another $6.8 billion to expand.
- 40,362 - The number of people employed by public transit authorities.
A MORE LIVABLE COMMUNITY
- Alleviating Traffic Congestion - Public transit helps lessen traffic on crowded highways and reduces commuting times. A single 40' bus can take as many as fifty cars off the road.
- Boosting Real Estate Values - Public transit fuels local developments and can in turn raise local property values.
- Improving Air Quality - By reducing air pollution from single-passenger vehicles, public transit helps everyone breathe easier.
- Saving Energy - Public transit reduces dependency on nonrenewable energy supplies such as gasoline.
- Fostering Strong Neighborhoods - Public transit helps residents attend community events, allows for the creation of "pedestrian only" zones, and can provide transportation services during times of natural disasters or other crises.
All Statistics from the Canadian Urban Transit Association, Statistics Canada, the Canadian Automobile Association, the American Federal Transit Administration and the American Public Transportation Association's Summary of Public Transportation Statistics.
