DRAFT

Washington State Public Transportation Plan
Introduction
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Investments in public transportation have a significant multiplier effect in creating jobs,
personal wealth and tax revenues. For example, a study conducted by the American Public
Transportation Association indicates that, “for every dollar communities invest in transit,
approximately $4 is generated in economic returns.” Development of bike infrastructure
has been shown to create an average of 11.4 jobs per $1 million spent compared to 7.8 jobs
per $1 million spent on road-only projects. Similarly, businesses with sidewalks have seen
increases in net operating income of 42 percent. Thriving communities represent a return on
investments that provide benefits beyond the initial investment.
In a recent study, WSDOT found that the “Complete Streets” approach to building thriving
communities with transit options would save an average of $9 million per project, or about
30 percent, when rehabilitating highways that serve small town Main Streets. The American
Public Transportation Association estimates $30 million of increased business sales result
from each $10 million in capital investment in transit, along with saving 37 million metric
tons of carbon dioxide in America.
Public transportation supports health and prosperity by providing access and mobility for
all people. A study conducted by Faulk and Hicks found that, for every $10 spent per capita
on bus operations, employee turnover fell 0.3 percent. And a 2014 study conducted by the
Transit Center found that employed persons are more likely to use transit, and students are
nearly 10 percent more likely to use transit as others in similar situations. Additionally, AARP
found that people who live in neighborhoods with sidewalks are 47 percent more likely
than residents of areas without sidewalks to be active at least 39 minutes a day. Those 65
and older, who are projected to make up 21 percent of our state’s population by 2040, will
require alternatives to driving to access health care and social services.
While public transportation serves as a major driver of local economies and connects
communities, it also produces significant environmental benefits. These benefits involve
removing hundreds of thousands of cars off the road each weekday as well as facilitating
higher density development that decreases the distances people need to travel.
INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES
The data demonstrates that residents value living where public transportation is accessible.
Furthermore, properties located near transit stations have higher real estate values. One
estimate noted that residential property values performed 42 percent better on average
when transit, specifically rail, was easily accessible. A 2011 survey by the National
Association of Realtors found that 50 percent of respondents prefer to purchase a home
in a “smart-growth” neighborhood. And a study from AARP shows that homes with aboveaverage
levels of walkability command a premium of about $4,000 to $34,000 more than
homes with average levels of walkability. In Washington state, a study completed by Seattle’s
Office of Planning on the 12 mile-long Burke-Gilman trail showed that property near the trail
sells for an average of 6 percent more.
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WSDOT | DRAFT October 2015 | WaTransPlan.com