Transit Keeps Ohio on the Move
Each and every day Ohio's 61 urban and rural transit systems embark on an average of 315,068 trips. That means more than 115,000,000 times each year seniors, workers, students, veterans, people with disabilities, commuters, cyclists, shoppers, sports fans and others climb on board a vehicle operated by an OPTA member.
Where they're going varies as widely as who they are. Our members' fixed route, demand response, and specialized transit programs arrive at and depart from tens of thousands of destinations daily. While the people who ride public transit and the places they travel to are incredibly diverse, one thing is constant: Ohioans know they can depend on their local system to provide safe, reliable, affordable, convenient transportation when and where they need it.
Ensuring that Ohio's transit systems have the resources it takes to meet the public's expectations today, tomorrow and for decades to come is OPTA's mission because we believe strong public transit creates vibrant communities...
TRANSIT BENEFITS
Transit Offers Mobility for People in Ohio's Rural Areas
Ohio's rural transit system provide more than 2,000,000 rides per year that connect residents to shopping malls, medical facilities, schools, and other destinations.
Approximately 11 percent of public transportation users are en route to schools; school districts, colleges, universities;Transit works for employee and employers by providing safe reliable, affordable transportation to job sites;Transit drives Ohio's economy by making it easy for consumers to visit malls, plazas, and other shopping venues; Service to Ohio's airports makes traveling easier and less expensive for Ohioans whether they're flying for business or pleasure;Libraries, parks, hike and bike trails, bowling alleys, and countless other leisure time destinations line transit routes across the state;Fact is, just about anywhere you want to go, Ohio's transit systems can get you there.
At a recent White House Conference on Aging, ensuring that older Americans have transportation options that enable them to retain their mobility and independence received the third most votes of 73 issues considered. Ohio's public transit systems are meeting the need. Our specialized services and senior-friendly vehicles make it easy for older Ohioans to maintain an active lifestyle--and they make life easier for family members who would have to leave work or put other activities on hold in order to drive parents or grandparents to medical appointments, activity centers, or other destinations.
Ohio's transit systems provide a vital link to thousands of people with disabilities and their family members. Urban and rural systems help ensure that persons with disabilities can remain actively involved in their communities by providing rides to work, job training programs, medical appointments, and adult day care facilities. We also deliver one other important commodity: peace of mind to family members who know they can trust our highly trained and devoted staff to provide the safest, most reliable transportation services available to their loved ones.
A recent study found investment in public transit pays big dividends for property owners. The value premium for single-family residential property near public transit was as high as 32 percent, for condominiums near transit as high as 18 percent, for rental apartments near transit as high as 45 percent, for commercial property near transit as high as 120 percent, and for retail property near transit as high as 167 percent.
It should come as no surprise that the use of public transit reduces our nation's dependence on foreign oil. In addition, it can save Ohioans big bucks. For example, a Cleveland resident who decides to park their car and ride RTA will save $787 per month or $9,445 per year. That's impressive, just like transit's impact on gas usage. Public transit in the U.S. saves:
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4.2 billion gallons of gasoline, representing 11.5 million gallons of gasoline per day.
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The equivalent of 102 supertankers of oil, or a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 4 days.
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The equivalent of 420,000 fewer service station tanker trucks clogging our streets each year.
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The equivalent of 900,000 fewer automobile fill-ups each day.
Using public transit reduces air pollution and carbon emissions, but Ohio's transit systems have gone to the next level by embracing alternative fuel sources and "green" technology. A growing number of fleets across the state are now being fueled by compressed natural gas and the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) has become a national leader in the use of hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) and will soon operate the largest fleet of HFC powered buses in the U.S. outside California. Here's how transit is helping Ohioans and Americans breathe easier:Public transportation saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually—equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households, or every household in Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined.If an individual switches a 20-mile roundtrip commute to public transportation, his or her annual CO2 emis-sions will decrease by 4,800 pounds per year, equal to a 10 percent reduction in a two-car household’s carbon footprint.Public transportation offers an immediate alternative for individuals seeking to reduce their energy use and car-bon footprints. Taking public transportation far exceeds the combined benefits of using energy-efficient light bulbs, adjusting thermostats, weatherizing one’s home, and replacing a refrigerator.
Transit Provides Access to a Wide Variety of Destinations
Transit Enables Seniors to maintain their mobility and independence
Transit is Vital for People with Disabilities and Their Families
Transit Increases Real Estate Values and Development
Transit Reduces Dependence on Foreign Oil
Transit Cuts Air Pollution and Carbon Emissions
PUBLIC TRANSIT | FAST FACTS
Today, Ohio's transit systems provide 315,068 trips per day or 115,000,000 per year.
Total spending on transit in Ohio will reach $900,000,000 in 2017.
Ohio ranks 14th in the nation in ridership.
By 2025 demand will increase to 684,931 trips per day or 250,000,000 per year.
In order to meet anticipated demand in 2025 spending must rise to $1.8 billion.
Ohio ranks 38th in state support for transit.
It's a fact: strong public transit creates vibrant communities...
A change in state tax law will erase millions of dollars in funding for transit and could result in service cuts, fare increases, and other negative impacts. OPTA's working hard to find a solution. Click here to for the latest news about this critical issue and to join in our effort to solve this fiscal dilemma.
Every dollar invested in public transit generates four dollars in activity in the general economy. That means the $900,000,000 spent on transit in Ohio generates $3.6 billion in sales of goods and services ranging from steel to tires to software--and it could be billions more if we fully fund our transit agencies.
The Trump Administration's recently released budget blueprint calls for drastic cuts in transit funding. Learn more, then contact your legislator and urge them to invest in America's future by supporting public transportation.
Experts agree: the demand for transit will explode in the years ahead. Are we prepared to make the investments needed to keep up and keep our state and nation growing? View blueprints for the future then make your voice heard in Columbus and Washington.
Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans utilize public transit every day, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, commuters and students. Check out the many ways transit improves the quality of life in our biggest cities, small towns, and rural communities.
Transit's commitment to the use of alternative fuels and green energy is driving research and development, business growth, and job creation in a wide array of industries that will power the economy in the 21st Century.