Reasons to Ride MAX Transit
If we all used public transit, it would be good for everybody. Where public transportation goes, community grows.
Two important trends that will increase the demand on public transit is the growing older adult population who will have a need for alternative transportation, and the desire by younger “Millennials” to reside in walkable urban communities close to bus routes. MAX plans to meet these growing needs through service improvements and expansion as funding is available.
Beyond the obvious benefit of getting people where they want and need to go, public transportation provides communities with a plethora of social, economic and environmental benefits. Here’s the Top 10 Reasons to Ride MAX Transit (and all public transit):
Investing in local transit also creates direct and indirect economic benefits. In Michigan, public transportation creates and sustains nearly 6,000 direct jobs for workers employed by transit providers, and thousands more through those who work to supply our state’s transit industry. This creates induced spending from the circulation of those same dollars within our community to support other jobs and related spending. In rural areas, studies have shown that the economic benefits of transit exceed costs by a three-to-one margin, while metropolitan areas have demonstrated a $6 return for every transit dollar invested.
According to the 2012-2017 Michigan Tourism Strategic Plan, one primary objectives of the Pure Michigan program is to “support the improvement and increased awareness of the quality, connectivity and diversity of tourist transportation options into and throughout the state.” This is done through transportation improvements that enhance the visitor’s experience, such as road repairs, mass transit, shuttles and regional airports.
In fact, nearly 6 percent of Holland area residents use MAX, which is nearly double the national average use rate for transit systems and community’s of this size. (Source: MP2 Planning Consultants, 2011)
Mass transit produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide (CO) per passenger than private vehicles, and nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx). A single person commuting alone for a 20-mile round-trip can reduce his/her annual CO2 emissions by 4,800 pounds per year by choosing to use public transportation. This is equal to a ten percent reduction in all greenhouse gasses produced by a typical two-adult, two-car household.
By eliminating one car and taking public transportation instead of driving, a savings of up to 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions can be realized. Using public transit also saves almost 4 million gallons of fuel per day, making us less dependent on foreign oil.
To encourage the use of public transit, MAX offers free fixed route rides on designated Clean Air Action Days and Earth Day, as well as the four scheduled election days in Michigan. So you can help clear the air and exercise your right to vote by riding MAX.
The investment in new technology that supports public transit expands the market for Michigan-based products and services, and supports the growth of new jobs in our state. Just some of the new technologies being used by transit systems include mobile data systems with Automated Vehicle Location (AVL), real-time performance tracking, and rider tool applications and convenient web interfaces.