Capital Area Transit (CAT) contributed over $11.2 million in wages & salaries and goods & services purchased in 2016 in CAT’s service area of Cumberland and Dauphin Counties and the City Harrisburg, according to an economic impact analysis completed by CAT’s finance department.

“CAT contributed more than $6 million to the City of Harrisburg economy,” CAT spokesperson and former COO of the city, Robert Philbin, said “Total CAT gross wages and goods and service expenditures in the City of Harrisburg reached $6,244,102 last year. That’s up from 2015 because CAT increased spending with minority businesses in the city.”

Including Harrisburg service taxes, CAT’s overall economic contribution to the capitol region reached $11,210,134 in 2016.

Following is a breakdown of wages, goods & service purchases by service jurisdiction:

CAT transit services are a bargain when you look at a comparison to CAT contribution versus cost to each service jurisdiction:

Impact/Cost by Jurisdiction, 2016

Cumberland County

CAT Economic Contribution:

$2,087,479

Total County cost for CAT services:

$305,308

Dauphin County

CAT Economic Contribution:

$1,167,621

Total County cost for CAT services:

$347,794

City of Harrisburg

CAT Economic Contribution:

$6,244,050

Total City cost for

CAT services:$226,071

“In addition to the wages and expenditures in the last year, it’s important to note that more than 50% of the CAT work force resides in the City of Harrisburg,“ Philbin added.

“That’s about one hundred families – all of which helps contribute to the financial recovery and stability of the city, and assures quality transit services to its residents. Our people live and work here, and we understand the fixed route and paratransit needs of our neighbors.”

For example, 46% of CAT riders are African American, 43% are Caucasian, 4% Hispanic and 2% Asian. More than 75% of CAT riders are employed and 62% ride a CAT bus daily to get to work. Half of CAT riders (49%) have no alternative means of transportation and 87% of CAT riders walk to a bus stop to get on a bus.

CAT workforce distribution by jurisdiction is as follows:

Jurisdiction                      % of workforce CAT employs more than 200 workers

“Public transit investment has a significant impact on the local economy and community and economic development throughout our service area,” Philbin noted. “Which is an important part of the total societal benefits associated with public investment in Capital Area Transit.”