Rapid transit is a sound investment for Sarasota County
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:10 p.m.
One of the big debates in Congress and on the presidential trail is whether drilling offshore will help lower gas prices. Unfortunately, the reality is that no amount of offshore drilling will fix this crisis. The fact is that the U.S. holds less than 1 percent of the world's oil in its offshore reserves, and the Energy Information Agency confirms we are a decade away from extracting it. In other words, even in 10 years, when offshore drilling gets under way, it will scarcely dent the global oil trade that ultimately dictates pump prices.
If increasing our oil supply is not feasible, what options are left? Perhaps the solution is not to get more oil, but to simply use less of it. Doing so will not only mean less money sent overseas to petro-dictators, but also less global warming, better air quality, more economic competitiveness, and more money in our pockets.
In fact, whether we realize it or not, most Americans already have started using less oil. Across the country, people are scrambling to get a ride to work or to the store on a bus or a train. As gas prices rose, public transit ridership exploded -- and not just in big cities with extensive subway systems -- but also in small towns with only a single bus route.
In fact, 86 percent of transit systems nationwide recently have experienced ridership increases. Sarasota is no exception: Sarasota County Area Transit ridership was up about 14 percent this July compared with last year.
Unfortunately, 85 percent of transit agencies are short on funding, due to strained capacity and escalating fuel costs. Congress is beginning to think about more sensible transportation funding, and if next year's federal transportation bill prioritizes transit investment, it could be a defining moment in breaking our oil addiction.
Today Sarasota County officials face an important decision about funding SCAT's new Bus Rapid Transit project. County commissioners should consider the fact that transit is a sound investment for our struggling economy. Analysis by the American Public Transportation Association shows that transit infrastructure typically pays $6 back to the economy for every $1 invested.
Investing in transit also makes economic sense, because it means we will ship fewer of our hard-earned dollars overseas by filling up our gas tanks, but instead keep them here in the local economy and create new green jobs.
Moreover, transit investment also helps attract new business customers, increase property values and reduce wasteful traffic congestion. Florida, which has felt the crunch of the housing market more than most places, could desperately use that sort of economic stimulation.
Finally, transit is the best way to create affordable access to jobs and could be a boon to low-income neighborhoods in Sarasota, especially as we head toward recession.
Still, some have raised important questions about whether Bus Rapid Transit will be successful here. Let's compare Sarasota to a place with an almost identical population density and county residents, Eugene, Ore. Eugene's new BRT line, which replaced an existing route in 2007, increased the route's ridership by 70 percent.
Transit is not only good for the economy, but it is good for the environment. In fact, if every American drove 10 fewer miles per week, that would save enough energy to power 8 million homes.
Furthermore, it's no secret that Florida's epidemic of sprawled development has not only ravaged the natural ecosystem, but shackled us to car and oil dependence.
However, innovative transit solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit can help put us on the track to more sustainable land-use patterns. Smart, transit-oriented, mixed-use development can help reduce the need for driving altogether. Imagine our kids being able to walk to school again or parents taking a stroll to the neighborhood grocery store.
Meanwhile, many creative transportation solutions exist, such as van-pool networks linked via cell phone that can help serve more rural areas and give seniors safe, independent transportation options.
For those who want to reduce our foreign oil dependence, rally our economy, and save the environment, here's to a new battle cry: "Ride, baby, ride!"
Edward Burgess is a research associate for Environmental Defense Fund, a national nonprofit environmental group based in New York City. He graduated from Pine View School in Osprey in 2003.
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