Responding to record-high gas prices and the rising use
of public transportation, the House of Representatives today passed HR 6052, the
Saving Energy through Public Transportation
Act, by a vote of 322 to 98 which authorizes 1.7 billion dollars to
transit agencies across America to expand services and reduce
fares. It is projected that over
$80 million would be directed towards projects in Florida.
This investment is part of a long-term solution that
gives Americans affordable and convenient alternatives to driving and allows
transit agencies to keep up with drastic increases in ridership brought on by
high gas prices.
“We applaud this legislation for its rare combination of
practicality and vision,” said Florida PIRG consumer advocate Brad Ashwell. “The
House recognized today that we cannot kick our oil addiction without driving
less, and we cannot drive less without better transportation
alternatives.”
According to analysis released this week by Florida
PIRG, families are spending close to 100 dollars a week on gasoline. That
spending has increased almost 40 percent in the last five months, and household
spending on transportation is now the second highest expense for the average
family - more than food, clothing, even healthcare.
Americans have responded to higher gas costs by taking
public transportation at record rates in areas where it is available, and
American drivers traveled fewer miles last year for the first time in almost
thirty years.
Analysis by Florida PIRG shows that public
transportation created net oil savings of 3.4 billion gallons in 2006. That is
enough to fuel almost 6 million cars for an entire year and saves consumers about $13.6 billion in gasoline at today’s prices.
“Rising gas prices are getting people out of their cars
in record numbers,” said Ashwell, “Investments like this give them a better and
cheaper way to go.”
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Florida PIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest
advocacy organization.
