Transit News

Bill in Congress would authorize $1.7B for public transportation in response to high gas costs 

San Francisco – Without sufficient alternatives to driving, American families already spent their entire economic stimulus check on high-priced gas. According to new analysis from the CALPIRG Education Fund, since President Bush signed the tax rebates into law on February 13th, average American households have now spent over $1,500 filling their tanks. Gas costs were higher than average in areas without robust public transportation.

“If Congress wants to do something long-term about high gas prices, it will give people more alternatives to driving,” said Emily Rusch, CALPIRG Transportation Advocate. “Unless we make it easier to drive less, American families will be stuck in neutral as they spend more and more at the pump.” 

According to the analysis released by CALPIRG Education Fund, since February when President Bush signed the tax rebates into law, the average cost per household for gasoline has gone from just over $60 weekly to almost $100 per week. Americans have responded to higher gas costs by taking public transportation at record rates in areas where it is available. American drivers traveled fewer miles last year for the first time in almost thirty years. 

Transit agencies have meanwhile struggled to keep up with the increased ridership volume. Today, though, the US House of Representatives will consider the Saving Energy through Transportation Act (H.R.6052), a bill that would authorize $1.7 billion dollars to allow public transit agencies across the country to reduce fares and to expand services. The cities of San Francisco and Oakland would receive a combined $47,973,112 over two years. The city of San Jose would receive another $14,695,062. 

“Between high oil prices and global warming, it's the time for transit, but transit is not ready. This will help,” said Dave Snyder, Transportation Policy Director for the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association.

Organizations also called on California legislators to protect state funding for public transit. Proposed state budget cuts could raid more than $1.4 billion from public transit in the coming year. 

“Just as our national leaders are affirming the value of public transportation, California's governor is proposing a raid of state public transportation funds. Governor Schwarzenegger's state budget proposes to redirect $1.4 billion in dedicated public transportation funds -- a sum nearly equivalent to the amount that the House Resolution would provide for the whole country! California legislators need to step up and protect public transportation funding,” said Carli Paine, Transportation Program Director for the Transportation and Land Use Coalition.

“Californians need more transportation choices,” said Victoria Rome of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).  “Riding public transportation is one of the best ways to fight global warming.  Our leaders should invest in alternatives to driving, so we can reduce emissions of heat-trapping pollution.”  

“Bay Area transit operators are already considering fare increases including significant fare hikes for those who rely most on transit – low income riders, youth, seniors and the disabled,” said Bob Allen, Transportation and Housing Program Director for Urban Habitat. “Further cuts in state transportation will only increase the cost of public transit for those struggling most in these difficult economic times.”

Analysis by CALPIRG Education Fund shows that public transportation created net oil savings totaling 3.4 billion gallons in 2006. This is enough to fuel 5.8 million cars for an entire year and to save about $13.6 billion in gasoline at today’s prices. Here in California, public transit saved 486.4 million gallons, the equivalent of saving $1.9 billion at the pump today.

The CALPIRG-released analysis, which was generated by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), also shows that neighborhoods around the country with the best access to transit spent an average of $728 monthly on all transportation costs, including gas, insurance, upkeep, and transit fares. Households in neighborhoods with the least access to transit, by contrast, spent an average of $925 per month. http://htaindex.cnt.org
 

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Squandering-the-Stimulus.pdf