April 20, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com or Donna Aggazio
(202) 496-4884 daggazio@apta.com.
(Download
In Adobe PDF Format)
Washington, D.C. - In honor of Earth Day, the American Public
Transportation Association (APTA) reminds Americans of the role public transportation
plays to help the environment. This message is especially timely when most
states cannot meet air quality standards, gasoline prices are at an all-time
high, and Congress is debating a six-year transportation investment bill.
"Each year, Earth Day ought to be an impetus for more Americans to use
public transportation to reduce air pollution and conserve fuel," said
William W. Millar, president of APTA. "Earth Day 2004 reminds us that
Congress can help the environment and expand travel options for all Americans
by passing a robust public transportation investment package."
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed 474 counties
in 32 states that they failed to meet new federal air quality standards for
ground-level ozone. This is sad news for the 159 million Americans who live
in these areas. Far worse, these 32 states are now at risk of losing federal
transportation funding for new transit systems and roads if they cannot meet
EPA's standards within the next three years.
This week, the American Automobile Association announced gas prices have
reached all-time highs on local, statewide and national levels.
"With gasoline prices at record highs, many Americans
are finding that mobility is becoming very costly," Millar said. "For
daily commuters, people on fixed incomes, and low wage earners, these increasing
costs are a real hardship."
To underscore these points, Millar referred to a 2002 study
that showed increasing public transportation use is the most effective, and
possibly the only way to improve air quality and reduce energy consumption
without new taxes, government mandates or regulations. The study found that
even small increases in transit usage would help many major U.S. cities meet
EPA's air quality standards, and if one in ten Americans used public transportation
regularly, U.S. reliance on foreign oil could be cut by more than 40 percent
(the amount of oil we import from Saudi Arabia every year).
"A commitment to use public transportation one more day a week would
make a dramatic and measurable difference in the planet's environment and
in the health of many Americans," Millar said. "Transit is one of
the vital solutions to our environmental and economic challenges."
"In the coming weeks, Congress will address a new six-year transportation
funding bill that will affect the quality of life for all Americans,"
Millar said. "The decisions that will be made about transit funding will
influence the quality of our air, the time we spend in traffic, and the cost
of our freedom and mobility for many years ahead."
"Let's make Earth Day the start of a new national commitment to transit
and a cleaner environment through increased investment in public transportation."
###
APTA is a nonprofit international association of more
than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning,
design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic
institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA
members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical
public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons
using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by
APTA members.
Some of these pages may include links to documents in the Adobe PDF format. Please download the Adobe PDF reader if you have not already done so.
