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The socio-economic benefits derived from public transit are numerous, and extend far beyond mere environmental benefits. In fact, public transit contributes significantly more to society than what it costs. It must therefore be seen as an investment for the community, not merely an expense.
🚍 How many cars could a bus replace?
One bus can take the place of more than 40 cars (or 60 people). Every metro train can translate to 900 fewer cars!
- Less congestion. Not only does public transit allow users to travel more affordably and remain physically active, all while promoting social interaction, but it also benefits those who drive because it reduces traffic congestion.
💡 More people on buses and in the metro means less congestion on our roads. And that means less time wasted in traffic jams, less fatigue and less stress for those who travel by car. - Increased financial resources for our regions and cities. A study carried out in Ontario showed that for every $1 invested in public transportation infrastructure, we can expect to see a payback of $29! In fact, of all types of infrastructure, investments in public transportation show the highest returns (while investments in highway projects generate losses of $4 for every dollar invested).(1)
- More talent available for businesses. The further mass transit systems extend beyond large urban centres, the easier it can be for employers to attract talent from diverse regions and backgrounds. In business circles, this is referred to as “expanding the labour pool.”
- More money in our pockets. Using public transportation can save approximately $10,000, compared with owning and using a new car in an urban area(2), when you factor in gasoline, parking, maintenance and insurance.
Everybody benefits
Public transit doesn't benefit only those who use it! Here are some examples of groups that benefit from its use:
Workers
More physical activity, less pollution, less time wasted in traffic, more money in your wallet
Highway users, buses, delivery trucks, freight trucks
Less congestion, less stress, more free time, on-time deliveries
Businesses
Attracting and retaining talent, employee productivity, economic value creation
Schools
Increased security around schools, greater sense of autonomy for youth
Municipalities
Reduced road repair costs, less urban space dedicated to cars, leaving more room for denser and greener living space
All these positive impacts for society serve to justify investments in public transit. Since users, motorists, and communities (governments and cities) all benefit from public transit, it is only fair that they also bear a portion of the costs. This is what is called the user-pay and benefactor-pay principle.
Do you know about the virtuous cycle of public transportation?
The sheer number of vehicles on the road causes delays for everyone, including those who take the bus. Punctuality is often what makes us choose one mode of transportation option over another.
So what should we do?
The more people that take public transportation, the fewer cars there will be on the roads and the less congestion there will be, and the more frequent and present buses will be in our neighbourhoods.
The more frequent the buses, the happier the passengers will be.
The more people who use public transit, the more money transit companies will have to invest in improving services.*
More services means more buses and subways, more often, earlier in the morning and later in the evening. This means less congestion, shorter waits at stops, and more satisfied users!
(*) Equally essential is greater funding from the various levels of government.
🚍 Who pays for public transit?
Municipal taxes are often the largest source of revenue for transit companies and these are shared with other public services. In Sherbrooke, user fares generate 26% of the transit company's revenue, while vehicle fees cover only 6% of bus costs. In the Montreal metropolitan area, the figures are 28% and 16% respectively.(3)
5 facts on public transit to share with others
- 💡In municipalities that have public transit, families are able to cut their transportation budget by half.(4)
- 💡 The bus is three times cheaper than using a car (per kilometre traveled).(5) Also, a bus consumes 2 to 3 times less energy!(6)
- 💡The use of public transportation costs society five times less than taking a private vehicle, when we factor in the taxes that fund road construction and maintenance and consider the hidden costs (such as time lost in traffic jams, pollution, and accidents).(7)
- 💡In 2022, Quebec’s ten transit companies generated over 28,000 jobs and brought in over $3.8 billion (GDP).(8)
- 💡Stress, accidents, loss of economic activity, productivity, and time: in 2023, the cost of traffic congestion in the Greater Montreal area was estimated at over $6 billion, or $1,394 per capita. This could rise to $10 billion by 2030 if nothing is done. Each car user wastes an average of 57 hours per year in traffic jams.(9)
- 63% of users of the Greater Montreal transportation system report that public transit allows them to forego the need for a personal vehicle.(10)
