Des
Moines, IA In 2008, people in Iowa saved nearly nine million gallons of
gasoline by riding transit in record numbers – the amount consumed by
15,300 cars. In addition to fuel savings, public transportation reduced
global warming pollution here by 80,000 tons. Transportation accounts
for more than two-thirds of the nation's dependence on oil, and about
one-third of our carbon dioxide pollution Environment Iowa 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 Eric Nost ,
state associate with the statewide citizen advocacy organization.
“Congress should listen to these voters and invest more in public
transportation, which will increase our energy independence and reduce
global warming pollution,” Nost added.
Micki Sandquist,
executive director of the American Lung Association in Iowa noted, “we
support public policies that encourage appropriate mass transit and
alternative transportation options. Conservation is always the first
and most obtainable goal in any effort to reduce petroleum consumption
and the air pollution it causes, and using mass transit is an easy and
effective way for anyone to reduce their consumption of petroleum
fuels.”
Iowans drove less, with 2.07 million fewer miles driven
in 2008 than in the year before - an eight percent drop that was the
largest percent decrease in the country. People drove less due in part
to volatile fuel prices and decreased economic activity, and many of
these car trips were replaced by transit. In fact, ridership increased
by five percent above 2007 levels.
“But in spite of the huge
potential for transit to reduce oil consumption and pollution, the vast
majority of transportation funding is spent on roads,” said Nost.
“Instead of spending money to build new highways that only increase our
dependence on oil, our leaders here in Iowa and in Congress should
drive more money to transit and high-speed rail,” Nost argued.
Andrew
Snow, campaign director at the Environmental Law and Policy Center,
agreed. "This report demonstrates very clearly that demand for better
public transit continues to grow very quickly. While our highways and
interstate system are congested with traffic, rail and other transit
systems will allow Iowans an efficient option to increase mobility and
increase productivity for our people and businesses. I have no doubt
that the unprecedented demand for travel within and without the state
can and should be met with improved rail and multi-modal transportation
options for our citizens. Our economy can't continue to compete without
better transportation, and Iowans must be connected to the Midwest
transportation network."
In order to maximize the potential of
public transportation to save energy and reduce pollution, Environment
Iowa is asking 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 Iowa 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 Grassley and Harkin will
support this forward-thinking legislation to lessen dependence on oil
and cut pollution,” Nost concluded.
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Environment Iowa is a state-based, citizen-funded organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space.
The
Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading public
interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation
organization.
