2008 Transit Ridership in Washington Region Saved Fuel Equal to the Amount Consumed by 442,200 Cars
ENVIRONMENT AMERICA and COALITION FOR SMARTER GROWTH
For Immediate Release: September 22, 2009
Contact: Rob McCulloch, Environment America, 202.683.1250, robm@environmentamerica.org
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth, 703.599.6437
Rebecca Perring, Coalition for Smarter Growth, 202.244.4408 x122
2008 Transit Ridership in Washington Region Saved Fuel Equal to the Amount Consumed by 442,200 Cars
New Report Demonstrates Key Economic, Environmental Benefits of Metro and Underscores Need for Transit Investment
Washington, D.C. -In 2008, Washington region commuters saved more than 255 million gallons of gasoline by riding transit in record numbers – the amount consumed by 442,200 cars in a year. Transportation is responsible for more than two-thirds of our dependence on oil, and about one-third of our carbon dioxide pollution as Environment America outlined in their new report “Getting On Track: Record Transit Ridership Increases Energy Independence.” (pdf)
“People are voting with their feet by driving less and taking more public transportation,” said Rob McCulloch, Environment America Transportation Advocate. “Congress should listen to these voters and invest more in public transportation, which will increase our energy independence and reduce global warming pollution,” McCulloch added.
In the Washington D.C. region, annual transit ridership increased 3 percent in 2008, and rose even higher in the first quarter of 2009 by 4.5 percent over last year. See the chart below for more D.C. region-specific details.
“Metro and transit-oriented development are success stories for the Washington region and offer an excellent national example of the benefits of transit,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “Aside from the energy savings and reduction in climate change-causing carbon emissions, Metro and our other transit services offer greater travel choices and save families money. According to the American Public Transit Association, a two-person household can save up to $9,167 by living with one less car.”
Schwartz continued, “Metro and related transit networks are central to our region’s economy and competitive edge, and this report underscores the critical need for sustained investment in in operations and maintenance, as well as expansion of service.”
As the Washington region prepares for a future with 1.2 million new residents and 1 million new jobs by 2030, we must plan to spend available transportation funds on projects that benefit the greatest number of people. Metro will need sustained sources of funding to meet $11.4 billion in maintenance, and rail cars and buses to meet growing demand over the next decade.
“Despite the huge potential for transit to reduce oil consumption and pollution, the vast majority of transportation funding is spent on roads,” said McCulloch. “Instead of wasting money to build new highways that only increase our dependence on oil, our leaders in Congress should drive more money to transit, rail, and better biking and walking options,” McCulloch added.
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.
In addition to fuel savings, public transportation reduced global warming pollution in the Washington D.C. region by more than 2 million tons in 2008.
In order to maximize public transportation potential to save energy and reduce pollution, the Coalition for Smarter Growth and Environment America call on local, state, and federal leaders to:
--Commit to a dedicated source of funding for Metro’s operating funds and maintenance needs.
--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 applaud Senator Cardin, Congresswoman Norton, and Congressman Connolly for co-sponsoring the CLEAN TEA bill. We hope their colleagues in the Senate will support this forward-thinking legislation to save oil and reduce pollution,” Schwartz added.
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The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization addressing where and how the DC region grows, partnering with communities in planning for the future, and offering solutions to the interconnected challenges of housing, transportation, energy and the environment.
Environment America is a national federation of 28 state-based, citizen-funded environmental organizations working for clean air, clean water, and open space.
Washington D.C. Region Data
Excerpted from “Getting On Track: Record Transit Ridership Increases Energy Independence”
Table 1: States with strong transit ridership growth, 2008
| STATE | Percent annual increase 2008 |
| Maryland | 15% |
| Virginia | 4% |
| District of Columbia | 3% |
Table 2: Transit ridership, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by state, 2007-2008
| 2007 population | 2008 population | 2007 transit trips (1,000s) | 2008 transit trips (1,000s) | Trips increase/ decrease | 2007 vehicle miles traveled (millions) | 2008 VMT (millions) | VMT increase/ decrease | |
| Maryland | 5,618,899 | 5,633,597 | 135,937 | 156,070 | 15% | 52,159 | 50,321 | -4% |
| Virginia | 7,698,775 | 7,769,089 | 68,320 | 71,071 | 4% | 75,933 | 72,896 | -4% |
| District of Columbia | 587,868 | 591,833 | 415,395 | 428,905 | 3% | 3,541 | 3,330 | -6% |
Table 4: Fuel, carbon reductions via transit usage, 2008
| 2007-2008 transit trips increase (1,000s) | 2008 total transit trips (1,000s) | 2008 total gallons of gasoline saved through transit | 2008 total tons CO2 reduced through transit | Equivalent annual gasoline savings in numbers of cars | |
| Maryland | 20,130 | 156,000 | 60,711,000 | 547,000 | 105,200 |
| Virginia | 2,750 | 71,000 | 27,646,000 | 249,000 | 47,900 |
| District of Columbia | 13,510 | 428,900 | 166,843,000 | 1,503,000 | 289,100 |
