COVID-19 Emergency Funding Critical to Public Transit’s Survival
Summary
A July 2021 report titled COVID-19 Emergency Funding Critical to Public Transit's Survival, based on a survey of transit agency members conducted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Its key takeaways state that almost one-half of public transit agencies (44 percent) said COVID-19 emergency funding helped them avoid a complete shutdown of service, and that 79 percent said it helped them avoid layoffs and 62 percent cutting service. It states that 65 percent of agencies are operating at 75 percent or more of their pre-pandemic service levels and that 51 percent expect to exhaust their COVID-19 emergency transit funding by January 2023. The report says APTA conducted the survey in July 2021.
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“COVID-19 Emergency Funding Critical to Public Transit’s Survival.”
Original at docs.house.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/hhrg-117-pw00-wstate-skoutelasp-20210729-sd001-437b3993996c-75e103ae80/
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COVID-19 Emergency Funding
Critical to Public Transit’s Survival
Key Takeaways
1. Almost one-half of public transit agencies (44 percent) stated that COVID-19 emergency funding
helped them avoid a complete shutdown of service
2. In addition, the overwhelming majority of agencies said that COVID-19 funding helped them avoid
layoffs (79 percent) and cutting service (62 percent)
3. Today, two-thirds of public transit agencies (65 percent) are operating at 75 percent or more of their
pre-pandemic service levels
4. A majority of agencies (51 percent) expect to exhaust their COVID-19 emergency transit funding by
January 2023. By January 2024, the vast majority of agencies (82 percent) will have expended all
COVID-19 funding
COVID-19 Funding Helped Transit Agencies Avoid Shutdowns, Layoffs, and
Service Cuts
The COVID-19 emergency transit funding helped public transit agencies avoid shutdowns, layoffs,
service cuts, and other detrimental actions. Almost one-half of transit agencies (44 percent) stated that
COVID-19 funding helped them avoid a complete shutdown of service. In addition, the overwhelming
majority of agencies said that COVID-19 funding helped them avoid layoffs (79 percent), furloughs (75
percent), and cutting service (62 percent). COVID-19 funds also helped approximately one-half of
agencies avoid delaying or cancelling capital projects and vehicle purchases.
JULY 2021
Actions Avoided
Furloughing Staff 75%
Laying Off Staff 79%
Cutting Service 62%
Eliminating Routes 59%
Reducing Days of Service 58%
Completely Shutting Down Transit Service 44%
Delaying, Deferring, or Cancelling Vehicle Purchases 47%
Delaying, Deferring, or Cancelling Capital Projects 52%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Use of COVID-19 Transit Funds
Nine in 10 public transit agencies have used their COVID-19 funding for operations only (51 percent) or
mostly for operations (39 percent). Only one in 10 agencies used the funding equally for operations and
capital (7 percent), or mostly for capital expenses (3 percent).
Use of COVID-19 Funding
3%
7%
Only operations
Mostly operations, some capital
Equally for operations and capital 51%
39%
Mostly capital, some operations
COVID-19 FUNDING CRITICAL TO PUBLIC TRANSIT’S SURVIVAL JULY 2021
Service Levels
COVID-19 emergency funding has enabled public transit agencies to ramp up service as people start
traveling more and return to offices and other workplaces. Two-thirds of responding agencies (65
percent) are operating at 75 percent or more of their pre-pandemic service levels.
Current Transit Agency Service Levels
1% 4%
10%
More than 100% of pre-COVID levels
75%-100% of pre-COVID levels
24%
50%-75% of pre-COVID levels
25%-50% of pre-COVID levels
Less than 25% of pre-COVID levels
61%
Agencies’ Expenditure of COVID-19 Funding
A majority of agencies (51 percent) expect to exhaust their COVID-19 funding by January 2023. By
January 2024, 82 percent of agencies will have expended all COVID-19 funds.
Agencies' Expenditure of All COVID-19 Funding
July 2021 4%
January 2022 20%
July 2022 37%
January 2023 51%
July 2023 68%
January 2024 82%
July 2024 94%
January 2025 or later 100%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
COVID-19 FUNDING CRITICAL TO PUBLIC TRANSIT’S SURVIVAL JULY 2021
Agency Stories of the Impact of COVID-19 Funding
Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 emergency funding has been critical to the very survival of public
transit agencies, enabling them to continue to provide this essential service in their communities.
When asked to describe the impact of this emergency funding, agencies said:
“Receiving the CARES, CRRSAA, and ARP monies literally saved our region’s public transportation
system. Pre-COVID we were already facing a deficit in our transit fund so without this infusion of funding
we would have been forced to drastically reduce service levels, lay off staff, etc.”
“COVID relief funding has prevented the outright cancelation of our commuter bus program. It has also
been a valuable tool to pay front-line staff to self-isolate/quarantine when they showed symptoms of
COVID. As a result, we have had no outbreaks amongst staff that have been tied to work.”
“The biggest benefit we saw was the preservation/continuation of employment and pay for our
employees and contract teams, and the provision of essential service to our community (especially
essential workers). Other specific opportunities: pandemic sick-leave program for operations and
administration; allowed flexibility to use funds to support our community via meal delivery, health
transports, etc.; filled gap in lost revenue from sales tax and fare revenue (ongoing into 2021); we also
used the funds for vehicle retrofitting to install air purification and safety improvements.”
“COVID-related funding has been a major factor in being able to pay for PPE, purchase of ion electric
cleaners, driver compartment plexiglass barriers, adding bus/facility cleaners for heightened cleaning to
keep our employees and the public as safe as possible. We were able to offset loss of fare revenue when
we offered free rides at the start of COVID. Plus, with ridership coming back so slowly, it continues to
help cover for those revenue losses too. Using COVID funding, we covered our costs when we partnered
with medical facilities to bring people to mass vaccination sites for free. In the past two months, we
have partnered with a free medical clinic—their nurses riding our bus and going door-to-door to get jabs
for those who are shut-in's or without access to transportation. This partnership has had very positive
feedback in our community.”
“Bottom line, relief funding provides a level of security needed to appropriately assess our community's
needs and help us fully recover. Without these funds we would not be planning a recovery.”
About the Survey
APTA conducted this survey of its transit agency members in July 2021. One hundred thirty-six (136)
members responded to the survey. Combined, those agencies carry more than three-quarters of U.S.
transit ridership.
COVID-19 FUNDING CRITICAL TO PUBLIC TRANSIT’S SURVIVAL JULY 2021
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of
1,500 public- and private-sector organizations which represent a $80 billion industry that directly
employs 448,000 people and supports millions of private-sector jobs. APTA members are engaged
in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and
intercity and high-speed passenger rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design,
construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit
associations and state departments of transportation. APTA is the only association in North
America that represents all modes of public transportation. APTA members serve the public
interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.
Author For General Information
Matthew Dickens Ward W. McCarragher
Director, Policy Development and Research Vice President, Government Affairs and
202.496.4817 | mdickens@apta.com Advocacy
202.496.4828 | wmccarragher@apta.com
www.apta.com/research-technical-
resources/research-reports/
APTA Vision Statement
APTA leads public transportation in a new mobility era,
advocating to connect and build thriving communities
COVID-19 FUNDING CRITICAL TO PUBLIC TRANSIT’S SURVIVAL JULY 2021
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