It's Time to Get to Work as a Region.

The Tampa-Orlando Megapolitan Area will add over 70% more people by the year 2040.
American Planning Association, Planning Magazine, "America 2040: The Rise of the Megapolitans", January 2007.

In member surveys conducted by the Tampa Bay Partnership, transportation was named the number one issue affecting the region's economic competitiveness.
Tampa Bay Partnership, 2006.

The Interstate System accounts for 3% of total public lane miles in Florida, but carries 30% of our total traffic.
Florida Department of Transportation, 2006.

From 1990 to 2005, the population of the Tampa-St. Petersburg region has grown by 31% -- in that same time, the total annual delay in travel time has increased by 119%.
Texas Transportation Institute, The 2007 Urban Mobility Report, Mobility Data for Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL, September 2007.

Only 2 out of the 20 largest cities in the U.S. are without a major capital investment in transit such as rail or premium bus service: Tampa and Detroit.
St. Petersburg Times, "Engine Behind Commuter Rail Changes in Tampa, Florida", October 2006.

Two out of three households in the Tampa Bay region believe that the newly created TBARTA is a good idea and are supportive of the new entity. We should all become involved with this new organization as they develop the master plan for the region. This is the time to make sure that our opinions and voices be heard.
TBARTA public survey, 2008.

 

It's Time To Get Out Of Traffic.

By Year 2030, the miles people are expected to travel in the West Central Florida region will increase by almost 100% -- and will cause a 300% increase in travel delay.
Florida Department of Transportation, 2006.

In the Tampa-St. Petersburg region, the average commuter spends an extra 45 hours per year sitting in traffic - that translates to a cost of over $1 billion annually, approximately $809 per commuter.
Texas Transportation Institute, The 2007 Urban Mobility Report, Mobility Data for Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL, September 2007.

In 2006, Americans took 10.1 billion trips on public transportation - the highest ridership level in 49 years.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.

In 2003, public transportation in America's most congested cities saved travelers 1.1 billion hours in travel time.
American Public Transit Association.

 

It's Time for Cost Effective Solutions.

In the West Central Florida area, working families spend an average of $10,600 per year, or 33% of their income on transportation - making it one of the most expensive transportation areas in the nation.
Center for Housing Policy, A Heavy Load, October 2006.

In 2003, the combined share of household expenditures spent on transportation and housing for Tampa was 57.7%, the highest of 28 Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, Driven to Spend, 2005.

In a breakdown of all household expenditures for the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area, it was shown that more money is spent on transportation than any other category including shelter, food or health care.
Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, 2007.

The average annual operating costs, financing, depreciation, insurance, licensing and registration for vehicle owner driving 15,000 miles per year is $7,834.
American Automobile Association, Your Driving Costs 2006.

Nationally, for every dollar a working family saves on housing, it spends 77 cents more on transportation.
Center for Housing Policy, Something's Gotta Give, 2005.

As working families move further from work to afford housing they end up spending as much, or more, on transportation costs than they save on housing.
Center for Housing Policy, A Heavy Load, 2006

Every $1 spent on transportation in Florida creates $5.60 in use and economic benefits.
Florida Department of Transportation, August 2006.

For every $1 billion invested in public transportation, 47,500 jobs are created.
American Public Transportation Association, 2007.

Every $10 million invested in public transportation saves more than $15 million in transportation costs, for both highway and transit users.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.

Each year, public transportation use in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline. This represents almost 4 million gallons of gasoline per day.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.

Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 140,769 service station tanker truck trips clogging our streets each year.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.

It's Time to Protect Our Environment.

Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill-ups every day.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.

The typical public transit rider consumes on average one half of the oil consumed by an automobile rider.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.

Public transportation use saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline every year, and can reduce household expenses by $6,200 - more than the average household pays for food in a year.
American Public Transit Association, January 2007

Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil, or a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days.
American Public Transit Association, 2007.