WASHINGTON -- June 19 was the third annual "National Dump the Pump Day," sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The public awareness campaign encouraged people across the country to ride public transportation rather than drive. More than 125 public transportation systems were expected to participate.
Meanwhile, at a time of record-high gasoline prices and a corresponding surge in transit ridership, Americans are driving less for the sixth month in a row, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).[image-nocss]
She said Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April 2008 than at the same time a year earlier and 400 million miles less than in March of this year. She added that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on all public roads for April 2008 fell 1.8% as compared with April 2007 travel. This marks a decline of nearly 20 billion miles traveled this year, and nearly 30 billion miles traveled since November.
"We're burning less fuel as energy costs change driving patterns, steer people toward more fuel efficient vehicles and encourage more to use transit. Which is exactly why we need a more effective funding source than the gas tax," Peters said.
The Secretary said as Americans drive less, the federal Highway Trust Fund receives less revenue from gasoline and diesel sales—18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon, respectively.
The Secretary noted that data show midsize SUV sales were down last month 38% over May of last year; car sales, which had accounted for less than half of the industry volume in 2007, rose to 57% in May. She said past trends have shown Americans will continue to drive despite high gasoline prices, but will drive more fuel efficient vehicles consuming less fuel. "History shows that we're going to continue to see congested roads while gas tax revenues decline even further," she said.
To review the FHWA's "Traffic Volume Trends" reports, including that of April 2008, click here.
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