More and more people are choosing transit in the Los Angeles region – 1.5 million each day, in fact. And that puts us on the forefront of an important trend. In a recent article, US News and World Report ranked Los Angeles the seventh top region in the country for public transportation.

This story reports access to public transit is expanding across the country, with the number of systems increasing by a multiplier of seven over the past 30 years. Los Angeles Metro operates 2,600 buses and more than 79 miles of rail service – and it’s growing, with projects like the Foothill Extension.

The piece highlights that these improvements not only benefit quality of life and the environment, they also stimulate the economy and create jobs. Importantly, the report also highlights that transit riders save significant money, averaging nearly $10,000 in savings every year.

Other cities on the list (compiled from FTA and APTA data) include Portland, New York, San Francisco and Salt Lake.