By Mary Velan
Gov1
In many major cities across the country, residents are provided with a variety of transportation options - trains, buses, ferries, etc. - that allow them to commute to work without a personal vehicle. Municipalities of all sizes, however, are interested in reducing traffic congestion, minimizing emissions and improving the quality of life for residents. To achieve these goals, many communities are investing in sustainable transit networks to drive walkability and cut down on the use of personal cars.
According to Brian McKenzie’s Census report, here is a list of cities with the lowest rate of car commuting in the country:
- New York-Newark-New Jersey (56.9%)
- Ithaca, NY (68.7%)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA (69.8%)
- Boulder, CO (71.9%)
- Corvallis, OR (72.6%)
- Iowa City, IA (73.4%)
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (75.6%)
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (75.7%)
- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA (77%)
- Missoula, MT (77.2)
Unfortunately many municipalities still report a vast majority of residents drive themselves to work. The Census data revealed in cities nationwide:
- 86 percent of US workers commute to work by automobile in 2013, while 75 percent of commuters drive alone
- The rate of carpooling has declined during each decade since 1980. About 9 percent of workers carpooled in 2013, down from 19.7 percent in 1980
- 78 percent of workers living in principle cities within metro areas had a lower rate of automobile commuting in 2013 than suburban (89 percent) or nonmetropolitan (91 percent) counterparts
- Urban workers aged 25 to 29 showed a 4 percent decline in automobile commuting between 2006 and 2013
- Workers aged 25 to 29 showed the largest increase in public transportation commuting between 2006 and 2013, from 5.5. percent to 7.1 percent
- Among workers with the highest earnings and no vehicle at home, the rate of bicycle commuting more than doubled between 2006 and 2013, from 1.1 percent to 2.4 percent
If the majority of workers opt to drive themselves to work, what is motivating cities to increase public transportation investments? A shift in culture.
Millennial Impact
One major driving force behind the push for more walkable communities and sustainable transit is the Millennial generation. These professionals represent the commuters who most frequently take public transportation, walk or ride bicycles to work. Millennials are opting for public transit not only in major cities but also smaller cities, which in turn is spurring transportation infrastructure growth, the Brookings Institute reported.
As a result, Generation X workers are also shifting away from commuting via private vehicles across the country. According to the 2013 American Community Survey from the Census Department:
- Workers 16 to 24 are commuting the least by car compared to all other groups
- Workers 25 to 54 saw driving rate fall by 0.9 percent between 2007 and 2013 - or roughly 750,000 drivers off the road
Furthermore, many commuters are opting to work from home. For example, Bridgeport and Denver each report 10 percent of their older commuters working at home in 2013, well above the 6.4 percent national average.
What’s Most Important
When catering to a growing population of public transportation-friendly workers, cities must consider where to construct transit hubs throughout the community. A new study out of the University of Denver analyzed the commuting behaviors of workers in Denver to determine whether living or working near public transit was more important. The researchers categorized “near” as being within a mile, half-mile or 15-minute walk from a public transit station. The researchers found workers who lived and worked near a light rail station had the highest commute shares. Furthermore:
- At one mile away, 35 percent made a non-car commute
- At a half mile, 50 percent made a non-car commute
- At a 15-minute walk, 62 percent made a non-car commute
These numbers were significantly higher than the regional transit commute share of 16 percent, which included workers who did not live or work near transit stops.
In addition, the study found commuters who worked near a light rail stop demonstrated stronger transit commute habits than those who lived near one:
- Workers with offices within one mile of a stop reported a 26 percent transit commute share
- Workers living within one mile from a stop reported only an 11 percent transit commute share
- Workers with offices within a half mile of a stop reported a 31 percent transit commute share
- Workers living within a half mile from a stop reported an 18 percent transit commute share
- Workers with offices within a 15-minute walk of a stop reported a 37 percent transit commute share
- Workers living within a 15-minute walk of a stop reported a 26 percent transit commute share
The researchers found that if the destination is near a transit station, commuters are more lively to take public transportation to work.