On June 18, people across the country will “Dump the Pump” and ride public transportation on the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day.  This event is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and public transportation systems across the country will be participating nationwide, along with five state transit associations.

The 2009 National Dump the Pump Day is a public awareness day that emphasizes how taking public transportation can help individuals save money and  help the environment.

“With gas prices increasing 33% since December, coupled with uncertain economic times, people have been looking for ways to save and riding public transportation is a great choice to make,” said APTA President William Millar. “The National Dump the Pump Day on June 18 is an opportunity for people across the country to make a difference in their wallet, as well as in the environment.” 

Public transportation systems are participating in a variety of ways.  Some public transit systems are offering free or reduced rides; holding contests with giveaways such as free transit passes; placing ads on gasoline station screens; providing content on YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace; and give aways.   

Additionally, transit agencies are teaming up by geographic regions to further help commuters take advantage of the potential benefits riders receive by taking public transportation.  In the Seattle Metro area 8 public transit systems are participating in a regional “Dump the Pump.” (The eight transit systems are: Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, Ben Franklin Transit, King County Metro Transit, Sound Transit, and the Washington State Ferries.) In the southern Florida Miami area, four public transit agencies are partnering together to promote the ‘Dump the Pump’ day. (The four public transit systems are: Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran, and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority)

Last year 10.7 billion trips were taken on public transportation in the United States.  This was a 52-year high, marking a modern ridership record.  Public transportation use is up 38 percent since 1995--almost triple the growth rate of the population (14 percent).

The number of participating public transportation agencies is growing every day.  Below is the current list of agencies participating in the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day.

• Akron, OH – Metro Regional Transit Authority
• Altoona, PA - Amtran
• Ames, IA – CyRide
• Ann Arbor, MI – Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
• Atlanta, GA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
• Austin, TX – Capital Metro
• Bremerton, WA – Kitsap Transit
• Burbank, CA – Burbank Bus
• Butler, PA – Butler Transit Authority
• Cambria, PA – Camtran
• Charleston, SC – Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority
• Chicago, IL – Regional Transportation Authority
• Chicago, IL – Chicago Transit Authority
• Chicago, IL – Metra
• Chicago, IL – Pace Suburban Bus
• Clemson, SC - Clemson Area Transit
• Columbus, OH - Central Ohio Transit Authority
• Concord, CA – Central Contra Costa Transit Authority
• Corpus Christi, TX – Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
• Denver, CO – Regional Transportation District
• Detroit, MI – Detroit Department of Transportation
• Dover, DE – Delaware Transit Corporation
• DuBois, PA – Du Fast
• Everett, WA – Community Transit
• Flint, MI - Mass Transportation Authority
• Fort Worth, TX – Forth Worth Transportation Authority
• Fort Wright, KY – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
• Franklin, TN – Franklin Transit Authority
• Gainesville, GA – Hall Area Transit
• Greensboro, NC - Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation
• Johnsonburg, PA - Area Transportation Authority of North Central PA
• Johnstown, PA – CamTran
• Jonesboro, AR - Jonesboro Economical Transportation System
• Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
• Lafayette, IN – CityBus
• Lakewood, WA – Pierce Transit
• Lancaster, PA – Red Rose Transit Authority
• Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Louisville, KY - Transit Authority of River City
• Lynchburg, VA – Greater Lynchburg Transit Company
• Madison, WI – Metro Transit
• Memphis, TN – Memphis Area Transit Authority
• Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Transit
• Monterey, CA – Monterey Salinas Transit
• Olympia, WA – Intercity Transit
• Orlando, FL - Central Florida Regional Transport (LYNX)
• Paducah, KY – Paducah Area Transit System
• Peoria, IL - Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (CityLink)
• Philadelphia, PA – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Pittsburgh, PA -- Port Authority of Allegheny County
• Pompano Beach, FL – South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Tri-Rail)
• Pompano Beach, FL – Broward County Transit
• Port Angeles, WA – Clallam Transit
• Port Huron, MI – Blue Water Area Transportation Commission
• Reading, PA – Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority
• Research Triangle Park, NC – Triangle Transit
• Richland, WA – Ben Franklin Transit
• Rochester, PA – Beaver County Transit Authority
• St. Louis, MO – Metro
• San Antonio, TX – VIA Metropolitan Transit
• San Bernardino, CA – Omnitrans
• San Joaquin, CA – San Joaquin Regional Transit District
• San Jose, CA -- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
• Santa Ynez Valley, CA – Santa Ynez Valley Transit
• Savannah, GA - Chatham Area Transit Authority
• Seattle, WA – King County Metro Transit
• Seattle, WA – Sound Transit
• Springfield, MO -- City Utilities Transit
• State College, PA - Centre Area Transportation Authority
• Toledo, OH – Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority
• Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Transit
• Washington, DC – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Washington State – Washington State Ferries
• West Covina, CA – Foothill Transit
• West Palm Beach, FL – Palm Tran
• Woodbridge, VA - Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission

The state public transportation associations sponsoring in the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day on June 18 include:

• Kansas Public Transit Association
• Ohio Public Transit Association
• Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA)
• South West Transit Association (SWTA)
• The Virginia Transit Association
• Washington State Transit Association (WSTA)