Take transit and ride out the recession

Commuters save up to $10,000 annually by giving up their car

What would you do with an extra $10,000? People in the Puget Sound region who take transit instead of driving to work can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars—enough money to re-landscape, help pay for college, even take a fabulous vacation.

Sound Transit announced today that it wants to hear how you plan to spend your transit savings, which you can calculate with a new Transit Savings Calculator at www.soundtransit.org/DoTheMath.

The calculator allows commuters to enter the numbers for their own commutes and find out how much money they can save each year by taking transit instead of driving. A new blog feature gives commuters a chance to share their plans for using the money.

“Just two little words will put money in your pocket starting now—take transit!” said Claudia Thomas, Sound Transit Board vice chair and Lakewood City Councilmember, who led a news conference today with American Public Transportation Association President Bill Millar highlighting Sound Transit’s new Ride out the Recession advertising campaign.

“We all know taking public transit is a great way to save money in these hard economic times,” said Millar. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) developed the calculator that Sound Transit adapted for its website, using American Automobile Association (AAA) and other well-established sources.

The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Transit Savings Report for May, released today, shows that riding public transportation in the Seattle metropolitan area and living with one less car in a household can save a typical individual $10,483 a year based on the latest national average gas price and the unreserved monthly parking rate. The report ranks Seattle sixth in the nation for potential transit savings. Information on the comparisons is available at http://www.apta.com/media/releases/090506_transit_report.cfm.