Next Stop: Sustainable Public Transit and Mobility

Check back soon for briefing highlight notes. 

Each day, roughly 6,800 public transit providers across the United States carry millions of people in rural and urban communities to work, school, medical appointments, and grocery stores by bus, ferry, tram, or subway. Investing in expanded and accessible public transportation systems not only makes it possible for people to travel safely and affordably, but also reduces local air pollution, improves land use, and supports millions of jobs.

This Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) briefing highlighted federal programs and research that propel public transit forward in the United States. Panelists discussed how federal transit investments bolster local economies, with every dollar invested in transit generating $5 in economic returns. They also explored transit’s central role in connecting people to other forms of transportation, from walking and biking to planes and trains.

This briefing was part of a series focused on the role of federal transportation and infrastructure investments in strengthening communities, increasing economic opportunity, building resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the lead up to the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. View the full briefing series at eesi.org/transit-briefings.