(Washington, DC, Friday, December 14, 2018) – With new innovations in public transportation and other options, the time of relying on the car you own as the only option to get around is over. Nearly 80 percent (77 percent) of Americans see public transit as the backbone of a multi-transit lifestyle that includes current and future technologies such as ride-hailing, bike/car-share, autonomous vehicles (AVs), scooters and other future emerging technologies, according a new study by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
This multi-transit lifestyle is accommodated by transit-oriented development. Current research shows that most millennials lead the way with their preference for walkable communities and short commutes. In fact, APTA’s study noted 88 percent of millennial respondents said that the length of their commute was important to them. The report, the Transformation of the American Commuter, includes a qualitative focus group and quantitative nation-wide survey of the general population with a strong focus on millennials.
Paul P. Skoutelas, president and CEO, explains.
SOUNDBITE #1:
COMMUTERS TODAY ARE DEMANDING A VARIETY OF MOBILITY OPTIONS, AND THEY INSTINCTIVELY KNOW PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES THE BEST OPTION. WHY? BECAUSE TRANSIT MOVES PEOPLE EFFICIENTLY – MOVING MORE PEOPLE USING LESS SPACE THAN SINGLE OCCUPANT VEHICLES. THUS, AMERICA’S PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES ARE POISED TO SERVE AS REGIONAL MOBILITY MANAGERS. THIS MEANS THEY ARE THE BEST EQUIPPED TO ORGANIZE A MULTI-MODAL OR MULTI-TRANSIT NETWORK OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT CONSUMERS CAN USE.
SOUNDBITE #2:
IT IS ESSENTIAL WE EXPAND OUR THINKING OF HOW WE PROVIDE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO ENSURE INTEGRATION ACROSS MARKETS, MODES, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CONTINUE TO SIMPLIFY THE USER’S ACCESS, AND WORK TO KEEP TRIP AND SERVICE COSTS EQUITABLE FOR CUSTOMERS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS CRITICAL WE GROW THIS NEW MOBILITY NETWORK TO SAFEGUARD THE MISSION TO SERVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, WHILE ENHANCING A REGION’S TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY GOALS.
To read the full study, visit www.apta.com/transformation.