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American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently released "Conserving Energy and Preserving the Air We Breathe," the sixth in a series of reports outlining public transportation benefits.

For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide and 92 percent fewer volatile organic compounds, and nearly half as much carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides compared with private vehicles, the report stated. Public transportation also reduces smog-creating emissions by almost 100,000 tons annually and saves more than 855 million gallons of gasoline.

As Congress nears debate on Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) reauthorization, federal officials could play a critical role in improving air quality by supporting more investment in the nation’s public-transit system, APTA officials said.