Bill in Congress would authorize $1.7B for
public transportation in response to high gas costs
Without sufficient
alternatives to driving, American families spent their entire economic stimulus
check on high-priced gas. According to
new analysis from the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group, since President
Bush signed the tax rebates into law on February 13th, the average
household spent over $1500 filling their tanks. Gas costs were higher than
average in areas without robust public transportation.
The group was
joined in releasing its findings today at an event at Moore Square by community
activists and public transportation backers who called on Congress to approve
additional funding for public transportation as an alternative to high gas
prices.
“North Carolina families are looking for true
relief from high gas prices. We urge Congress to pass the Saving Energy through
Transportation Act and help make public transportation more accessible,” said Representative
Jennifer Weiss, Democrat from Wake
County.
Representative Paul Luebke, Democrat from Durham
County, added, “This measure will help
communities in North Carolina
build, grow, and improve their transportation systems.”
According to the
analysis released by NCPIRG, 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. As early as tomorrow,
though, the US House of Representatives will consider the Saving Energy through
Transportation Act, a bill that would authorize 1.7 billion dollars to allow
public transit agencies across the country to reduce fares and to expand
services. Raleigh
would receive $2,252,268 over two years, and Durham would receive $2,230,548.
“If Congress wants
to do something long-term about high gas prices, it will give people more
alternatives to driving,” said Shana Becker, Staff Attorney at NCPIRG, “Unless
we make it easier to drive less, American families will be stuck in neutral as
they spend more and more at the pump.”
Analysis by NCPIRG 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. In North Carolina,
public transit saved one million gallons, the equivalent of saving $4 million at
the pump today.
NCPIRG’s 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.
In the Triangle, residents with high transit access spent an average of $775
monthly, or 19.0% of the area median income, and $946 monthly in low transit
areas or 23.3% of the area median income.
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