Record-breaking transit ridership saved fuel equal to the amount consumed by 20,200 cars in Indiana

Indianapolis, IN - In 2008, people in Indiana saved 11,670,000 gallons of gasoline by riding transit in record numbers – the amount consumed by 20,200 cars in Indiana. Transportation is responsible for more than two-thirds of our dependence on oil, and about one-third of our carbon dioxide pollution Environment America 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 Megan Severson of Environment America.  “Congress should listen to these voters and invest more in public transportation, which will increase our energy independence and reduce global warming pollution,” Severson added.

In Indiana, transit ridership increased by more than 9 percent above 2007 levels.

People in Indiana drove less, with 2.4 million fewer miles driven in 2008 than in the year before – a four percent decrease. People drove less due in part to volatile fuel prices and decreased economic activity, and many of these car trips were replaced by transit.  
 
“More and more Indiana citizens want increased options for transportation.  Not only does public transportation save working Hoosiers time and money, it helps to improve our environment,” said State Representative Terri Austin, Chair of the Roads and Transportation Committee.   “We have to find a way to increase public transportation options while ensuring that those industries which rely on moving people and goods over our public roads have safe, well-maintained thoroughfares,” Austin added.

In 2008 increased national transit ridership saved more than 4 billion gallons of gasoline, the equivalent of the fuel nearly 7.2million 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 oil, and reduces global warming pollution, smog, and asthma attacks,” continued Severson.

In addition to fuel savings, public transportation reduced global warming pollution in Indiana by 105,000 tons in 2008.

In order to maximize public transportation potential to save energy and reduce pollution, Environment America 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.
• 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 America 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 Lugar and Bayh will support this forward-thinking legislation to save oil and reduce pollution,” Severson added.