A record-breaking year for Iowans using public transit

Taking the bus has proved to be an energy saver for Iowa, according to an environmental group.

Eric Nost of the Environment Iowa statewide citizen advocacy organization released a report Wednesday indicating that Iowans saved nearly nine million gallons of gasoline by riding transit in record numbers during 2008.

Nost said the energy savings from public transportation use were equal to the amount of gasoline consumed by 15,300 cars and contributed to reducing carbon dioxide pollution associated with global warming by an estimated 80,000 tons.

“People are voting with their feet by driving less and taking more public transportation,” Nost said. “Congress should listen to these voters and invest more in public transportation, which will increase our energy independence and reduce global warming pollution.”

Iowans drove 2.07 million fewer miles in 2008 compared to the previous year – an 8 percent drop that ranked among the largest in the country, according to Environment Iowa. Nost attributed the decline in part to volatile fuel prices and decreased economic activity that caused people to turn in public transit with ridership up by 5 five percent compared to 2007 levels.

“But in spite of the huge potential for transit to reduce oil consumption and pollution, the vast majority of transportation funding is spent on roads,” he said. “Instead of spending money to build new highways that only increase our dependence on oil, our leaders here in Iowa and in Congress should drive more money to transit and high-speed rail.”

In order to maximize the potential of public transportation to save energy and reduce pollution, Environment Iowa  is asking local, state, and federal leaders to set goals for reducing oil dependence and pollution through transportation, spend more on transit rather than road projects, and increase funding for transit maintenance and operations.

Environment Iowa's report “Getting On Track: Record Transit Ridership Increases Energy Independence” was available at

http://www.environmentiowa.org Wednesday afternoon.