Columbus, OH - In 2008, people in Ohio saved over 52
million gallons of gasoline by riding transit– the amount consumed by 91,600
cars in Ohio. Transportation is responsible for more than two-thirds of our
dependence on foreign oil, and about one-third of our carbon dioxide pollution Environment
Ohio outlined in their new report “Getting On Track: Record Transit Ridership
Increases Energy Independence.”
“People are voting with their feet by driving less and
taking more public transportation,” said Amanda Moore of Environment Ohio. “Congress should listen to these voters and
invest more in public transportation, which will increase our energy
independence and reduce global warming pollution,” Moore added.
Nationwide, transit ridership increased in record numbers
– by 4%. In Ohio, transit ridership increased by less than one percent above
2007 levels, largely due to lack of transit opportunities. One state that saw a
16% increase in transit ridership was North Carolina, which last year expanded
its transit system.
People in Ohio drove less last year, with almost 4
billion fewer miles driven in 2008 than in the year before – a 4 percent
decrease. People drove less due in part to volatile fuel prices and decreased
economic activity, and some of these car trips were replaced by transit.
“Despite the huge potential for transit to reduce oil
consumption and pollution, the vast majority of transportation funding is spent
on roads,” said Moore. “Instead of
wasting money to build new highways that only increase our dependence on
foreign oil, our leaders here in Ohio and in Congress should drive more money
to transit, rail, and better biking and walking options,” Moore added.
In 2008 increased national transit ridership saved more
than 4 billion gallons of gasoline, the equivalent of the fuel nearly 7.2
million cars – almost as many passenger cars as are registered in Florida –
consume in one year.
These figures do not take into account the other benefits
of increased transit ridership – benefits that include reduced congestion,
fewer hours stuck in traffic, reductions in smog and soot pollution or money
saved by households regularly taking transit.
“Every additional dollar we spend on public transit makes
us less dependent on foreign oil, and reduces global warming pollution, smog,
and asthma attacks,” continued Moore.
In addition to fuel savings, public transportation
reduced global warming pollution in Ohio by 476,000 tons in 2008.
In order to maximize public transportation potential to
save energy and reduce pollution, Environment Ohio is asking our local, state,
and federal leaders to:
- Issue overarching goals for reducing oil dependence and
pollution through transportation, which will guide better policy.
- Increase investment in cleaner public transportation,
to include transit, high speed rail, and better walking and biking options.
This includes implementing the 3C passenger rail project.
- Level the playing field in terms of funding and
approving transit projects, relative to road projects. Approval of transit and
highway investments should be governed by an equivalent set of rules and
matching ratios.
- Increase funding for transit maintenance and day-to-day
operations, in addition to improving and expanding capacity. Federal, state and
local funds should allow for greater flexibility in funding operations - new
buses and trains are useless without drivers to drive them and mechanics to
maintain them.
In the near term, Environment Ohio is calling on Congress
to incorporate the full provisions of CLEAN TEA (the Clean, Low Emissions,
Affordable New Transportation Equity Act, S. 575), into the climate bill being
debated now in the Senate. CLEAN TEA would direct 10 percent of climate bill
allowances to clean transportation efforts that will save oil and reduce emissions.
“We hope Senators Brown and Voinovich will support this
forward-thinking legislation to save oil and reduce pollution,” Moore added.
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Environment Ohio is a state-based, citizen-funded
environmental organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space.
