Washington, DC — According to the American Public Transportation Association(APTA) October Transit Savings Report, individuals in the Philadelphia area who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, $984 this month, and $11,814 annually. These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle which includes the October 24, 2012 average national gas price ($3.63 per gallon- reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate. APTA notes a simple way to avoid the rising parking rates is to swap your daily car trip for travel on your local bus or train.
The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $166.26, according to the 2012 Colliers International Parking Rate Study. Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,995. The cost of the daily downtown daily parking rates increased in 2012 by an average of 1.6 percent or an extra $132 per year compared to the rates in 2011.
APTA releases this monthly Transit Savings Report to examine how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.
The Delaware Transit Corporation, a subsidiary of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), operates DART First State. For information on fixed route bus services statewide, please call 1-800-652-DART or visit www.DartFirstState.com.
