Alternatives to the High Price of Gas

Letter to President George W. Bush on the Use of Public Transit in Times of High Gas Prices

October 19, 2005

The Honorable George W. Bush
Office of the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and its 1,600 member organizations, I write to thank you for urging Americans to use public transportation in the face of rising energy costs, and for signing into law on August 10, 2005, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users - legislation that significantly increases our nation's investment in public transportation and thereby contributes to critical energy savings.

Noted economists Kevin Hassett and Robert Shapiro in a report entitled "Conserving Energy and Preserving the Environment: The Role of Public Transportation" demonstrate how the use of public transportation reduces Americans'energy bills. They found

• For every passenger mile traveled, public transportation is twice as fuel efficient as private automobiles.

• Per year, public transportation saves more than 855 million gallons of gasoline, or 45 million barrels of oil. This is equal to about one month of oil imports from Saudi Arabia; three months of the energy that Americans use to heat, cool and operate their homes; or half the energy used to manufacture all computers and electronic equipment in America.

• Americans use more energy for transportation than for any other activity. Nearly 43% of America's energy resources are used in transportation, compared to industrial use (39%), residential use (11%) and commercial use (7%). Greater use of public transportation therefore offers the single most effective strategy currently available for achieving significant energy savings and improving air quality, without imposing new taxes, government mandates or regulations.

In short, making much greater use of public transportation can be part of an effective strategy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and we stand ready to provide whatever assistance we can in this area. Again, thank you for your support of public transportation.

Sincerely yours,

William W. Millar

President

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