OSPIRG calls for accelerated expansion of public transportation to provide relief from high gas costs
Without sufficient alternatives to driving, many Oregon families spent
their entire economic stimulus check on high-priced gas. According to new
analysis from Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), since President
Bush signed the tax rebates into law on February 13th, the average American
household has spent over $1500 filling their tanks. Gas costs were higher than
average in areas without robust public transportation.
According to the analysis released by OSPIRG, the average
cost per household for gasoline has gone from just over $60 weekly to almost
$100 per week. Oregonians have responded to higher gas costs by taking public
transportation at record rates, as have Americans nationwide where public
transit is available. American drivers traveled fewer miles last year for the
first time in over twenty years.
“The real solution to high gas costs is making sure people
more have alternatives to driving,” said Laura Etherton, OSPIRG Advocate. “Let's
make it easier to drive less, so Oregon
families won't be stuck in neutral, spending more and more at the pump.”
Analysis by OSPIRG
shows that public transportation created net oil savings totaling 3.4 billion
gallons in 2006. This is enough to save about $13.6 billion in gasoline at today’s
prices. In the Portland
area, public transit saved 33.2 million gallons of gas, the equivalent of
saving $135.5 million at the pump today.
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OSPIRG (Oregon State Public Interest Research Group) is a
non-profit public interest advocate. The full report is available at
www.ospirg.org
Squandering-The-Stimulus.pdf