Transit Information Center
Breakdown of operating expenditures by expense category in recent years
Data sources:
The National Transit Database > Monthly Module Adjusted data - August 2008 (http://204.68.195.57/ntdprogram/data.htm)
InflationData.com > The Consumer Price Index > Historical CPI data (http://inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_Rate/HistoricalInflation.aspx)
Transit is a labor intensive industry. Fringe benefits account for more than 30% of all expenditures. Moreover, fringe benefits increased by nearly 19% between 2003 and 2007 (constant dollars).
Salaries and wages account for over 50% of expenditures but had no real increase between 2003 and 2007.
Fuel and utilities saw the highest increases (100% and 33% respectively) due to a significant rise in energy prices during the period. However, energy represents only a small portion of transit operating expenditures (6% and 4% respectively).
The data confirms recent claims that fringe benefits are the expense item of greatest concern as a result of this trend toward continuing increases.