Dump the Pump Fact Sheet- 6/13/08 Third Annual National Dump the Pump Day is June 19, 2008
http://apta.com/services/dump_the_pump_08/ What is Dump the Pump?
APTA (American Public Transportation Association) organizes a national Dump the Pump Day each year to raise awareness of the benefits, both economical and environmental, of public transit. RTS participated in Dump the Pump last year in an effort to encourage people to beat the high price of gasoline and use public transportation to battle our country’s dependency on oil.
Dump the Pump Campaign:
RTS is promoting Dump the Pump Day 2008 by: o Working with local employers to encourage the Employee Bus Pass Program (Commuter Choice) o Radio, Web, bus and TV ads o “Ride the Bus with Magic” on June 19—radio personality rides bus for 1 hour o Celebrating Dump the Pump Day across Gainesville
Why Celebrate National Dump the Pump Day in Gainesville?
Purpose:
To catalyze ridership by emphasizing the economic and environmental benefits of using RTS services, while contributing to the effort to reduce our nation’s dependence on oil and help protect our environment.
How RTS is Affected by Fuel Prices:
Fuel prices have increased to the point that RTS has to pay more than $500,000 more this year for the same amount of fuel we purchased in FY 2007. FY 2007 RTS used 869,425 gallons of fuel and paid $2,009,824 for an average price of $2.31 per gallon. RTS plans to partner with UF and FDOT to implement a bio diesel project. RTS will present several revenue and cost cutting options for consideration by City Management. o They include revenue projects (new bus wrap advertising program) o Increased contract service fees o Adjusting existing services o Fare Increases
Quick Fuel Facts
Here are some at-a-glance statistics about how public transit contributes to the effort to protect our environment and move away from oil dependency.
RTS Facts:
RTS Ridership increased 311% between FY 1997 (2.2 million) and FY 2007 (8.9 million), with an estimated 9 million for FY 2008. RTS average daily boardings range from 20,000 during the summer to 50,000 during the fall and spring. RTS has more than doubled its fleet since 1997; 47 buses in 1997 to 110 in 2007. RTS provides city and campus-wide service to the area’s population of around 159,500 (159,508). RTS also provides the Employee Buss Pass Program, Later Gator (late night service), Gator Aider (football game day park and ride service) and RTSunday service to reach out to as many Gainesville riders as possible.
National Transit Systems:
From 1995 through 2006, public transportation ridership nationwide increased by 30 percent, a growth rate higher than the 12 percent increase in US population and higher than the 24 percent growth in use of the nation's highways over the same period. Each year, public transportation use in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline. This represents almost 4 million gallons of gasoline per day.
Individual Cost Savings:
Each year public transportation households in the U.S. save over $1,399 worth of gas. Transit availability can reduce the need for an additional car, a yearly expense of $6,251 in a household budget including the hidden cost of maintaining the vehicle. Gainesville residents can calculate personal savings on gas and parking fees by using the commuter calculator on the RTS web site, www.go-rts.com.
Energy Conservation:
The typical public transit rider consumes, on average, only 1/2 of the oil consumed by an automobile rider. Each RTS passenger consumed a mere tenth of a gallon of gas per trip in 2006. Florida’s population growth is more than double the national average. Each bus full of passengers eliminates six automobiles from the already crowded streets. Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill-ups every day - 108 million fewer cars filling up annually.
Environmental Conservation:
Public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide (CO), 90 percent less in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO 2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), per passenger mile than private vehicles. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82 percent of total U.S. man-made greenhouse emissions. RTS reduced air pollution in Gainesville by approximately 4,400 tons of CO2 in 2006. This number continues to rise as ridership increases each year. Florida Public Transportation can save new roads from being built on ecologically sensitive lands.