Report: Seniors will add $3.9 billion to transit costs

Rapidly growing population

Vilas Bhuchar, May 17, 10.

To serve the rapidly growing portion of Americans older than 65, public transportation will incur increased operating and capital costs of up to $3.9 billion annually by 2030, according to a new study conducted for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and reported by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

With the number of Americans over age 65 expected to grow by 79% in the next 20 years, public transportation operators will need to address a number of needs, according to the study, “Funding the Public Transportation Needs of an Aging Population”, including:

- Enhancements to fixed-route public transportation operations and planning such as additional bus operator training, incorporating travel needs of older people in route planning and stop placement, and coordination with other agencies and transportation providers
- Enhancements to public transportation vehicles such as low-floor buses, kneeling buses, improved interior circulation, additional stanchions and grab bars, ergonomic seating designed for older riders, and accessibility features either required or encouraged by ADA like lifts and ramps, larger letters on head signs, and stop announcements
- Actions to help older people take advantage of existing services, like presenting information in ways that are easy to read and as clear as possible, information and assistance programs to connect older people with appropriate services, and outreach and training programs
- Expansion of supplementary services including flexible route and community transportation services, ADA complementary paratransit, non-ADA demand-responsive services, taxi subsidy programs, and volunteer driver programs
- Application of universal design strategies at transit facilities, bus stops, and on streets and sidewalks in the immediate vicinity of transit facilities and stops

“This study shows that for public transportation systems to improve providing an indispensable service to older Americans, they will require significantly greater public investment,” said APTA President William Millar. “For millions of Americans older than 65, public transportation is critical to maintaining independence and quality of life. But like any valuable service, ours comes with expenses—expenses that will increase as the number of people we serve dramatically increases.”

Full story
57-page study: Funding the Public Transportation Needs of an Aging Population

(Photo credit: TheeErin)