Public Transportation Investments Can Save Consumers $112 Billion
Investments in public transportation and the implementation of sound transportation policy could save consumers $112 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 24 percent by 2050. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released a study today that supports public transportation investments. The study, titled Moving Cooler, cites that “expanded public transit strategies coordinated with combining travel activity, land use development, [and] operational efficiencies can reduce greenhouse gases by 24 percent.” Road pricing changes will get us to a total of 47 percent reduction in GHG. In addition, it could save consumers as much as $112 billion annually. The study also points out that in order to reach our greenhouse gases emissions reduction target, it’s investing in public transportation is essential.
While advances in fuels and vehicle technology will be critical to reducing GHG emissions from transportation, the Moving Cooler analysis demonstrates that additional GHG emissions reductions can be achieved by bundling transportation strategies.
Not only is investing in public transportation an effective way to curb emissions, it creates jobs–in fact, it creates 19 percent more jobs than building new roads and bridges does. It also saves Americans money; in 2005 the cost of extra time and fuel wasted in traffic was $78 billion. Our New Apollo Program proposes two crucial steps to expand and improve our nation’s public transportation system:
First, increasing people’s access to public transportation. More than half of U.S. households lack ready access to public transportation, and with 30 percent of all GHG coming from the transportation sector, by using public transportation we could put a huge dent in our greenhouse emissions while creating jobs and saving Americans’ money. To do this, Congress should support a federal transportation bill that provides access to transit for low-income and working families and invests in regional light rail systems and more bikeways and walkways.
Second, Congress should direct funding to a new Transit Trust Fund. This should supplement funding provided through the transportation bill to ensure that funding for public transportation doesn’t diminish so that we can continue to strengthen our public transportation system and our economy.
The current transportation bill, which was originally approved in 2005, expires at the end of September. Without pushing through a stronger transportation bill, we risk massive funding cuts for public transportation.
– Jenna Scatena
Photo courtesy of J. Griffin Stewart / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
August 8th, 2009 at 9:54 am
If we raise the cost of transportation fuel, and vehicle tax, and licencing, people will be forced to use public transportation. Also if we make it impossible for people to get drivers licences if they get a DUI, or are involved in a major violation, or just too old, that will help us reach our goals.