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PRESS RELEASE
COAST TRANSIT AUTHORITY
June 16, 2008
Coast Transit Authority is joining with the American Public Transportation Association in celebrating the 2nd Annual Dump The Pump Day on Thursday, June 19.
It is a celebration of fuel savings and environmental conservation. It is a celebration of awareness an awareness of public transportation as an alternative to traffic congestion and unnecessary fuel consumption.
To call attention to the day and public transportation as an alternative, we are offering free rides all day long on all our fixed route buses, said CTA Executive Director Kevin Coggin. We want you to try us out and give us a chance as an alternative to driving your car and spending your money on $4 gas.
Gas prices have driven public transit use up tremendously all over the country, especially on the smaller systems like CTA. CTA offers fixed route busses, casino shuttle service, special needs transportation, van pooling for industry, assistance and organization for car poolers and hurricane evacuation.
For information on any or all of these services, please call CTA at 228-896-8080 or go to www.coasttransit.com.
And Dont Forget - FREE RIDES all day on Thursday, June 19.
The following is a fact sheet about public transportation from the APTA
Public Transportation Facts for the Second Annual National Dump the Pump Day
Public Transportation Ridership:
In 2006, Americans took 10.1 billion trips on public transportation - the highest ridership level in 49 years.
34 million times each weekday, people board public transportation.
From 1995 through 2006, public transportation ridership increased by 30 percent, a growth rate higher than the 12 percent increase in US population and higher than the 24 percent growth in use of the nation's highways over the same period.
Energy Conservation - Reducing National Dependence on Foreign Oil:
Each year, public transportation use in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline. This represents almost 4 million gallons of gasoline per day.
Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill-ups every day - 108 million fewer cars filling up annually.
Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil, or a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days.
Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 140,769 service station tanker truck trips clogging our streets.
The typical public transit rider consumes, on average, one half of the oil consumed by an automobile rider.
Individual Cost Savings:
Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary alternative to driving.
Each year public transportation households save over $1,399 worth of gas.
Transit availability can reduce the need for an additional car, a yearly expense of $6,251 in a household budget.
The average household spends 18 cents per dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of this goes to buying, maintaining and operating cars.
Americans living in areas served by public transportation save $18 billion annually in congestion costs.
Environmental Conservation:
Public transportation use can help reduce pollution and promote cleaner air.
Public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide (CO), 90 percent less in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), per passenger mile than private vehicles.
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82 percent of total U.S. man-made greenhouse emissions.
By reducing smog-producing pollutants and greenhouse gases and by conserving ecologically sensitive lands and open spaces -- public transportation is helping to meet national air quality standards.
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