Transportation

TRANSPORTATION: 15-20%

OF HOUSEHOLD SPENDING

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2020, household incomes between $49k-62k, spent 15-20% of their household incomes on transportation costs. Transportation spending remains the second highest expense of after-tax income.

CAR OWNERHSIP: $9,000

PER PERSON, PER YEAR

The national average annual cost of automobile ownership went up to almost $9,700 in 2021. Roughly 13.8% of Missoulians fall at or below the poverty line, and the costs of car ownership can be a financial burden. Alternate modes of transportation, like busing, biking and walking, can lower household costs.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: SAVE ON EMISSIONS AND COSTS

If you chose to purchase a personal vehicle, electric vehicles can offer substantial savings in cost, as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing an electric vehicle means it can be powered by electricity from solar, wind, or hydropower generation. Here in Montana, the Alternative Fuels Data Center shows electric vehicles generate much less emissions than regular gas-powered vehicles. On top of these savings, a DOE commissioned study notes that switching to an electric vehicle can save as much as $14,480 in fueling costs over 15 years.

MOUNTAIN LINE’S EV FLEET AVOIDS EMISSIONS

Mountain Line has a sustainability goal of zero-tailpipe emissions by 2035. As of right now, they currently have 12 zero-emissions buses in their fleet. These buses avoid almost 104 MT of CO2e/year/bus. This is equivalent to removing 271 passenger vehicles driven for one year.

TRANSPORTATION: OVER 396,000 MTCO2E

In 2019, over 396,000 metric tons of CO2e (36% of our community’s greenhouse gas emissions) were emitted through various modes of transportation, mostly from tailpipe emissions. This is equivalent to almost 438 million pounds of coal burned.

338 MT OF CO2E

ELIMINATED

Missoula in Motion reports that 338 metric tons of CO2e were avoided in 2020 due to the sustainable trips that community members logged. This is equivalent to nearly 850k miles driven by the average passenger vehicle.

NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS

If you enjoy walking and biking, there are several neighborhood greenways that provide safe and convenient pathways near main streets, with low-speed limits and more vegetation and tree-cover to enhance your comfort and enjoyment during your journey.

TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH

Opting to take the bus, bike, walk, or drive a low emission vehicle can have positive impacts on the health of your community, especially given Missoula’s unique geography. Due to our winter inversions, vehicle emissions can get trapped close to the ground and expose our community to higher levels of detrimental air pollution than we would otherwise experience. Using public transportation, biking, walking, or driving an electric vehicle can all minimize vehicle emissions and their impacts to our community’s health.

GOLD LEVEL

BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

With over 20 miles of off-street trails and 40 miles of on-street bike lanes, over 50% of Missoulians commute via bicycle. The League of American Bicyclists has designated the city as a Gold level Bicycle Friendly Community. Check out our community’s interactive bicycle map.