Why get on board?

Today, we are facing unique challenges that are increasing the demand for transportation choices. With an unstable economy and fluctuating gas prices, saving money by reducing dependence on cars is looking better and better. Even when gas prices are low, it's still painful to know that you'll waste much of that fuel sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic!

It's time to change the way Virginians think about the way we get from here to there - no matter where "there" may be. Transit can help you get to work, the grocery store, school or medical appointments in a more cost effective way. And the more people who take advantage of Virginia's transportation options, the less congestion we will have on the roads. That means faster travel times.

Try Transit Week is the perfect time to get on board and discover how transit can help you save money and time.

Save money!
While many transportation services generally require fares to use the service, it can save you money compared to filling up your car each week.

  • The availability of public transportation options can reduce the need for an additional car, leading to savings of more than $9,300 per year ($779/mth) (APTA).
  • Without transit, congestion costs would be $13.7 billion higher than they are today (APTA).
  • The average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of this goes to buying, maintaining, and operating cars, the largest expenditure after housing (APTA).

Save time!
Our roads are growing more congested every day. Buses, trains, carpools and vanpools and teleworkers help save space on highways and manage traffic congestion.

  • Americans living in areas served by transit save 646 million hours in travel time (APTA).
  • A single bus can remove up to 40 cars from traffic and one passenger railcar can remove up to 125 cars from highways according to the Virginia Transit Association (VTA).
  • Vanpool programs remove over 6,000 cars a year from Virginia's roads (Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation).
  • If Metrorail did not exist, an additional 26 interstate highway lanes would be needed to accommodate commuters during rush hour in the Washington, DC area (VTA).

With all these benefits, why not pledge to try transit?