Boston ranks No. 1 with public transit savings

Even though gas prices have dropped considerably since the summer, commuters in the metro Boston area can save considerably by using public transportation. The price of ownership, maintenance and parking a vehicle can be avoided by purchasing a public transportation pass.

The American Public Transportation Association conducted the study that estimates commuters in several major cities including Boston and Philadelphia can save over $10,000 by taking the train or subway.

Although the organization has reason to emphasize the benefits of public transportation, the fact that Boston ranked No. 1 does seem to speak to the expenses of parking and insuring a car in Massachusetts in particular.

The study suggests that by buying a commuter pass instead of paying for parking on a daily basis, commuters in Boston save a little over $1000 per month. A commuter rail pass is considerably more expensive than a T pass and some employers partially subsidize the cost of parking, but even with taking these factors into consideration, commuters in Boston can do a lot for the environment and their budgets by making the switch to public transportation.

The American Public Transportation Association also reports that in the third quarter of 2008, almost 3 billion trips were taken on public transportation, up nearly 7 percent from the same period in 2007. The weakened economy and increased gas prices over the course of the year seem to suggest that taking public transportation is the solution many commuters are turning to when financial factors are taken into consideration.

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--Bridget O'Sullivan