Whatcom Transportation Authority Economic Impact Analysis

WTA public transit connecting communities across Whatcom County. Photo: WTA

Showing how public transit supports Whatcom County’s economy and communities

Public transit creates economic value for the communities it serves, but much of that value never appears in a budget—a paratransit trip to a medical appointment, or the money a household saves by leaving a car at home. To measure that value in Whatcom County, Washington, the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) engaged Greene Economics to conduct an economic impact analysis of its transit system.

We paired economic modeling with qualitative research. Our team toured WTA's facilities in Bellingham, observed the system, and interviewed staff, board members, and community partners. We reviewed transit studies from other agencies, then used an IMPLAN input–output model to show how WTA’s spending moves through the local economy—the jobs the agency supports directly, and the additional activity its purchases and payroll generate. We then applied published research on travel costs and greenhouse gas emissions to estimate rider savings and climate benefits in economic terms.

We also described harder‑to‑measure benefits to public health and the environment, including reduced traffic congestion, better air quality, and essential trips for the elderly, people with disabilities, and students.

The analysis found that every public dollar spent on WTA returns about $3.40 in economic value to the community—roughly $145 million a year, supporting more than 400 jobs. These results give WTA a stronger basis to plan service and make the case for continued investment in transit across the region.