The Economic Value of Public Transit in Alaska

This study assessed the economic impact and value of transit, bringing together both quantitative and qualitative findings to capture the multifaceted benefits of transit and its importance to the Alaskan economy. The scope of the study includes the 14 public transit providers that receive grant funding from the Alaska Community Transit Office.

Developed to support communications with stakeholders, the legislature, and the public, the study addresses the economic value of transit from four perspectives:

1. Statewide Economic Impacts of Transit Expenditures: Transit agency expenditures create jobs and generate business sales throughout Alaska
2. Transit Commuters and the Alaskan Economy: This study quantifies the number of transit commuters by industry who are able to get to work because of transit, alongside the wages they earn and the business sales they help generate.
3. Transit's Role in Providing Inclusive Mobility: A crucial role of transit is providing inclusive mobility, particularly for those who may have limited or no alternative means of transportation. 
4. Performance Benefits of Transit: The study quantifies how transit helps avoid costs to people and society relative to other alternative modes of transportation which are often expensive and inconvenient. 

In addition to these statewide perspectives, EBP developed individual agency profiles for each of the 14 transit agencies, including with agency level economic results and insights from interviews into the unique ways in which each agency serves their community.

Read the final study here