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The Facts about Public Transit and the Environment

We created this page to serve as a source for facts about the benefits of public transit in relation to reducing carbon emissions. We will continue adding facts to this page in the future!

Yellow Bus
Train
Inside the Bus
Light Rail System
Entering Subway

Public Transit Facts

  • Transportation accounts for 29% of all carbon emissions in the USA.

  • Bus travel produces 0.64 pounds less of carbon emissions per passenger mile compared to personal vehicle travel. 

  • Car transportation accounts for nearly 44% of the average American families carbon footprint.

  • If just one driver per household switched to taking public transportation for a daily commute of 10 miles each way, this would save 4,627 pounds of carbon dioxide per household per year—equivalent to an 8.1% reduction in the annual car- bon footprint of a typical American household.

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Source: Federal Transit Administration's report, "Public Transportations Role in Responding to Climate Change".

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Link to the report: Public Transportations Role in Responding to Climate Change

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