Public Transit Can Provide Big Savings in Energy, Time, Money, and CO2; Groups Highlight Local Alaska Data Favoring Public Transit

Alaskan groups joined together today to release the report: A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit, which examines the challenges faced by America’s transportation system and the benefits to local communities through investments in public transit.

In Alaska in 2006, there were a total of 6.5 million trips by public transit, including 5.9 million trips by fixed-route buses in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan. Public transit is the only transportation mode that, to date, has received no support in the state’s capital or operating budgets which, in effect, limits federal funding for transit.

Click here to download the report (1MB PDF)

Click here to read KTUU TV news coverage 

“This report shows why we need more funding for public transit in Alaska,” said AkPIRG's Steve Cleary. “It puts clear numbers on how public transit reduces oil dependence, traffic congestion, and global warming pollution. “Alaska needs better transportation choices; we need to get more projects off the drawing board and into action, like commuter rail from the Mat-Su Borough to Anchorage. Even people who don't use public transportation benefit from the investment – through less congestion, cleaner air, and money saved.”

“Alaska Department of Transportation’s recently released Long-Range Transportation Policy Plan states that DOT will “advocate for transit.” The legislature likewise needs to support transit in this year’s capital and operating budgets” stated Lois Epstein, engineer and Director of the statewide transportation watchdog organization Alaska Transportation Priorities Project. “Governor Palin’s capital budget includes $800,000 for transit, and that’s a tremendous start.”

According to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, transportation accounts for about 35 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. “Increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere are the primary cause of global warming, which has already had dire consequences in the Arctic,” said Margaret Manousoff, Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator of Alaska Conservation Solutions. “Public transit is a simple and effective means to cut carbon emissions dramatically. It provides residents with a great opportunity to save money and energy, while at the same time helping to safeguard the Alaskan way of life.”

According to the report, nationwide, transit saves 3.4 billion gallons of gasoline each year, prevents 541 million hours of traffic delays and reduces global warming pollution by 26 million metric tons. An overwhelming majority of the public, approximately 75 percent, tell pollsters that transit is the best way to fight traffic congestion.

ALASKA DATA

Download: Press Release, March 6th, 2008 (MS Word, 200k)