Study: TransFort saves Fort Collins 39,000 hours in commute time

FORT COLLINS – Use of the city of Fort Collins’ mass-transit system reduced the number of miles driven in private vehicles by 2.5 million in 2012, or more than 10 trips to the moon, according to a study released today.

The study, “Economic Benefits of Transit Systems: Colorado Case Studies,” provides a snapshot of financial payback on local transit investment for decision makers and their communities in three Colorado regions, including Northern Colorado as well as the Roaring Fork Valley and Grand Mesa.

“People often view public transit as an investment that only pays off in larger cities,´ said Mike Salisbury, report author and transportation program analyst at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “Now that we have quantified the benefits, those old assumptions can be laid to rest. Fort Collins residents see big savings among other benefits.”

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The TransFort transit system covers 54 square miles with 20 bus routes. More than 7,000 people use the system every day for work, medical appointments, errands and school.

“TransFort has set forth a vision to be the first choice for transportation in our greater community,´ said Transfort general manager Kurt Ravenschlag in a press statement. “This goal means serving every sector of our community, and one great way to attract people to transit is to show them the environmental and economic benefits that the system provides.”

The report also found that use of the TransFort system in 2012 saved commuters 123,800 gallons of gasoline at an estimated cost of $427,000, maintenance and repair savings of $139,000, 39,000 hours of total commuting time saved because of decreased traffic congestion, $2.3 million in benefits from employee accessibility to jobs and more than $5 million in total community benefit including reduced congestion, reduced parking and infrastructure costs and other residual costs.

The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project is a public-interest organization that promotes energy efficiency in Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The organization’s transportation program identifies and promotes the implementation of policies that achieve significant energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.