Our six metric categories demonstrate the range of transit benefits. Several metrics fit in more than one category and are classified under their primary benefit.

Jobs: More transit access to jobs means more employment opportunities for a region’s residents, and more access to high quality workforce for a region’s employers.

Economy: Economies thrive when businesses have access to customers, and lower transportation costs mean more room in residents’ budgets to invest in the local economy.

Equity: Reliable public transportation broadens employment opportunities, increases household spending flexibility, and contributes substantially to upward mobility prospects.

Health: Public transit riders are more active, have improved connections to healthcare facilities, and increase their access to high quality food sources.

Transit Quality: The presence of nearby transit is not enough to fully realize these benefits. Frequent service throughout the day (including weekend and evening hours) and connections to key activity centers (jobs, schools, healthcare, etc) are characteristics of a good transit system.

Mobility Network: Transit does its job best when neighborhoods are walkable and when the transit network connects riders to other mobility options.