Efficient public transportation is important for any growing community. It increases worker satisfaction and productivity by reducing commuting times, cushions the impact of high gasoline costs on working families, reduces traffic and thereby lessens air pollution, encourages more walking, provides a safer form of transportation than traveling by automobile, and it expands job opportunities for workers who cannot afford a car.
According to a Wave Transit on-board survey, around 35.1% use the bus for work, 15.2% for school, 25% for shopping, 12.8% for medical, and 11.9% for other.
In addition, according to the American Public Transportation Association, the average household spends 16 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 93% of this goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars – making it the largest expenditure after housing. A household can save nearly $10,000 by taking public transportation and living with one less car. So, by enhancing public transportation opportunities, it protects family budgets by enabling households to rely less on vehicles and more on public transit.