DeLauro Praises Effort to Increase Use of Public Transportation

Press Release

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) applauded the effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, while saving working families money at the gas pump by encouraging more people to use public transportation, a primary objective of the Saving Energy Through public Transportation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6052). The bill is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

In 2007, Americans took more than 10.3 billion trips on public transportation, the highest level in 50 years. Public transportation use is up 32% since 1995, a figure that is more than double the growth rate of the population and up substantially over the growth rate for vehicle miles traveled on our nation's highways for that same period.

"With gas costing over $4 a gallon, families in Connecticut are increasingly turning to public transportation as an affordable, environmentally friendly solution. The Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 provides incentives for commuters to choose public transportation options, as well as ensures that we are making the vital investments in our mass transit in all its forms - buses, ferries, rail, vanpool, streetcar, and subways - to meet the growing ridership," said DeLauro. "According to a recent study, if Americans used public transit at the same rate as Europeans - roughly 10 percent of their daily travel needs - the U.S. could reduce its dependence on imported oil by more than 40 percent, nearly equal to the 550 million barrels of crude oil that we import from Saudi Arabia each year."

Public transportation use saves the U.S. the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually, or more than 11 million gallons of gasoline per day. Additionally, public transportation use also provides an affordable alternative to driving, as households that use public transportation save an average of $6,251 each year.

The Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act of 2008 would:

- Authorizes $1.7 billion of capital and operating funds for transit agencies to reduce fares and
expand transit services;

- Increases the Federal Share for Clean Fuel and Alternative Fuel Transit Bus, Ferry, or
Locomotive-related Equipment and Facilities from 90 percent to 100 percent;

- Extends Transit Benefits to All Federal Employees, currently available in the National Capitol
Region and through a nationwide pilot program; and

- Establishes a Vanpool Pilot Program.

- Increases the Federal Share for Additional Parking Facilities at End-Of-Line Fixed Guideway
Stations.

Source