Transit and active transportation
Transit, shared, and active transportation are a variety of sustainable options for efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly mobility. From buses and carpooling to walking and bicycling, these modes of transportation reduce traffic congestion and provide access to jobs, education, and community.
Ridership
7.5 million rides were provided in Greater Minnesota during 2024.
Benefits of transit investment
In 2020, we conducted a study measuring the economic benefits of rural and small urban transit in Greater Minnesota. In every Minnesota case study reviewed, researchers discovered that the benefits of public transit outweighed the cost to the community, with a cost-benefit ratio ranging from 1.5 to 4.2 for every $1 invested in public transit, the return to the community served is at least $1.50 and in some cases as much as $4.20.
Shared mobility is a form of transportation in which services are shared among users, either at the same time or independently. In addition to traditional public transportation, this includes things like microtransit, shared bicycle and scooter services, carpooling and vanpooling.
Getting a ride in the city is easy, but the further you get from a major metropolitan area, the harder it can be to get around.
Active transportation means any kind of human-powered transportation. Our Active Transportation Program provides grants and technical assistance to make walking, biking, and rolling safer and more accessible for Minnesotans.
Active transportation modes
Public transit connects residents to their community and its amenities. It provides many community and individual benefits.
Community impacts
- Provides access to essential needs including healthcare, housing, food, employment, social opportunities.
- Increases retail revenue due to ability to get to shopping.
- Aging populations especially value the option of transit in their community as driving single occupancy vehicles becomes less desirable or available.
- Reduces public assistance costs by increasing access to employment opportunities in communities.
- Transit positively impacts local economies via jobs created by the transit agency, benefits businesses receive from selling to the transit agency and induced economic activity.
- Transit provides equitable access to the community including those who use a mobility device such as a wheelchair.
- Transit use eliminates space and maintenance expenses for businesses and communities for parking infrastructure.
- When bike racks are integrated into buses in communities, transit assists in creating multi-modal and healthier transportation options. Bike racks assist with the first mile/last mile transit gap.
- Transit reduces congestion and roadway maintenance costs due to reduced traffic creating wear and tear on road materials.
- Property values are higher in areas that are served by public transit.
- Having transit as an option in your community makes the community more appealing to live in, which results in higher population (and tax) base.
- Public Health and Human Services agencies save considerable dollars in nursing home costs if residents can age in place with home health aides versus nursing home care.
- Compared with driving alone, taking public transportation reduces CO2 emissions by 45%, decreasing pollutants in the atmosphere and improving air quality. (transportation.UCLA.edu)
- Research shows that $1 invested in public transit can return as much as $11 to the community.
Individual impacts
- Transit is a low-cost mobility option for users due to subsidized costs.
- Allows for independence and reduces the need to depend on others for transportation needs.
- Reduces health care costs and improves quality of life resulting from providing transportation to someone who otherwise would have missed a health care trip.
- Allows individuals to stay in their homes longer when driving is no longer an option.
- Traveling by public transit is 10 times safer per mile than traveling by automobile. (apta.com)
- Using transit frees up your time to relax or catch up on things.
- Using transit saves on wear/tear and gasoline for your personal vehicle.
- Transit use eliminates parking fees for users.
- Transit increases social and (mental) health related opportunities for both youth and aging populations allowing them to stay active in their communities.
- Social connections increase as driving tasks decrease.
- The need for transit in greater Minnesota communities will continue to grow exponentially during the next decade as our population ages and requires more access to transportation services.