New research highlights the incredible benefits of transit to the Capital Region

New research and analysis commissioned by Metro demonstrates transit’s critical importance to the National Capital Region. When we invest in transit, our community thrives.

The region’s transit system delivers returns on investment many times greater than its cost, and it’s fundamental to this region’s success and plans for the future.

Investing in transit benefits everyone whether they ride or not. Transit drives the economy, reduces traffic, reduces potential traffic injuries and fatalities, protects the environment, and advances equity.

While the areas around Metro stations take up 3% of the land in the region, they host nearly 40% of the region’s jobs and 30% of its property values. Land and buildings near Metro stations generate around $3.2 billion in property tax revenue for local governments every year.

Without transit, the region would lose more than $9 billion worth of economic activity and business output due to heavy traffic congestion, lack of access to jobs, and much slower movement of goods. If transit didn’t exist, the region would have to spend $29 billion building 1,300 miles of new roads and massive amounts of parking just to maintain current levels of traffic and congestion. That amount of parking is equivalent to covering the National Mall in five-story garages. 

Investing in transit reduces congestion and avoids billions in road and parking costs

By 2025, transit will keep about 1.2 million cars off the road every day. Lined up in a row, those cars would stretch from Washington, DC to Alaska. 

Without transit, driving on major corridors like I-66, I-95, or New York Avenue would take up to twice as long, adding 20-30 minutes to every trip. Even for people who only commute three days a week, that's an extra 2-3 hours stuck in traffic each week. 

Investing in transit saves households money and improves quality of life

Car ownership costs about $12,000 a year on average. The average cost of a monthly Metro pass is $1,500 a year, so transit saves no-or-car-lite households $10,500 per year.

Transit riders save about $2,800 a year by not having to pay for rideshares, taxis, parking, and tolls, too.

Investing in transit grows the economy and makes the region more competitive

Metro station areas hold only 3% of the region’s land, but they make up about 30% of property value ($330 billion), 30% of annual property tax revenue ($3.2 billion), and host 40% of jobs (960,000). 

Metro station areas have also hosted 65% of new office development, 50% of new multifamily rental housing, and 25% of affordable housing in recent years. 

Metro stations have twice as many businesses, three times more jobs, and three times more property value than areas without Metro. 

Over half of the region’s 240,000 businesses—and more than 70% of its 2.5 million jobs—are within a half-mile of a Metro rail station or bus stop. 

Transit reduces congestion, which makes freight and deliveries cheaper and more reliable. This saves the region $30 million a year in freight and shipping costs.

Transit helps keep our communities safe and healthy

Transit avoids an additional 1.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year. That’s the same as if all the households in Arlington, VA didn't use energy for an entire year.

Transit is 20 times safer than driving a car, which helps avoid nearly 30 people killed and over 2,500 people injured in car crashes per year. 

Transit improves health. People who ride transit walk as much as 30 minutes more a day, increasing heart health, building muscle, and reducing risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.

For more information, see the one-page summary, the full report, and technical documentation.