PAT less effective? (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, York: insurance, how much, depreciation)

[pman]

new report by a nonprofit public transit organization finds that Port Authority riders save about $659 a month by taking public transportation to work instead of driving.
But Pittsburgh was at the bottom of a top-20 cities list in the "Transit Savings Report," compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based American Public Transportation Association.
The report looks at how much a commuter could save on a monthly and yearly basis by taking public transportation and living with one fewer car. It takes into account the cost of gasoline, parking rates in a city's downtown business center and the cost of public transit.
New York's MTA riders save about $1,063 a month over their driving counterparts. Boston was a close second at a savings of $1,061. SEPTA riders in Philadelphia save about $888 a month, the report found, and Cleveland's public transit commuters save about $761 a month.
The average savings commuting on public transit is about $729, according to APTA.

Port Authority riders save less money than transit riders elsewhere - Pittsburgh Business Times:

or is driving just less expensive in pittsburgh than philly?

[PeterRabbit]

It doesn't say how much Pittsburgher's save. How much is bus fare and a parking permit? Do people still share the permits? One guy goes in and parks, comes out and hands you the permit, then you.... Is that Ornarto guy at Parking Authority related to Dan?

[pman]

Originally Posted by PeterRabbit

It doesn't say how much Pittsburgher's save. How much is bus fare and a parking permit? Do people still share the permits? One guy goes in and parks, comes out and hands you the permit, then you.... Is that Ornarto guy at Parking Authority related to Dan?

APTA: Despite Dramatic Dip In Gas Prices, Public Transit Users Save Almost $9,000 Per Household Annually (http://www.apta.com/media/releases/081106_users_save.cfm - broken link)

[PeterRabbit]

Thanks for that link. For me, before details, it looks like this:

$3,240 . parking permit @ $270/month
$1,250 . gas @ 7,500 miles per year (150 miles per week, 18mpg @ $3.00 gallon)
---------------
$4,500 per year

$ 375 per month
- $90 Zone 2 monthly bus pass
---------------
$285 monthly savings
$3,400 yearly savings


Their formula is 23.4mpg, gas @ $2.34 and driving 15,000 miles per year - that's 60 miles per day round-trip. I used 30 miles a day. I think they are also basing the parking at an unreserved rate of $143 per month.

[pman]

The variable cost includes the cost of gas, maintenance and tires. The fixed cost is includes insurance, license registration, depreciation and finance charges.

I think you also missed some of the above. for me the insurance added up. I suppose the significant savings comes when you can forego one car as a household. foregoing ownership of a car is significant savings. Still, one reason I think Pittsburgh may be lower than, say, Philadelphia is cost of driving. maintenance, insurance, etc are probably cheaper so the cost savings is smaller. still, it may or may not be the same when income is considered.

[right-here-i-say]

PAT transits #1 goal is high pay, pension and benefits to its union employees.

[Geeo]

That's not PAt's goal, that's the union's goal. PAT management wants to rein in those legacy costs and platinum lifetime health benefits. They have more retirees than active employees now, just like General Motors. But I think those union days are over, given that they have zero support from the public.

[pman]

Originally Posted by right-here-i-say

PAT transits #1 goal is high pay, pension and benefits to its union employees.

does the figure above take into account the cost of providing the service?

[bbrian12]

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