Immediate Release
March 6, 2008
Contact
Emily
Fehrenbacher, Maine PIRG Students (207) 228-8501, (630) 337-6914 cell
Matthew Davis, Environment
Maine, (207) 253-1965, (617)
529-5855 cell
Local Leaders Cite
New Report as Boosting Downeaster and Transit Service
Shows Big Savings of Energy, Time,
Money, and CO2 from Transit
PORTLAND - The Downeaster and
other transit projects received a boost today as Portland City Councilors, legislators, train
riders and other supporters held an event at the University of Southern Maine
calling for approval of financing and citing a major
new report on oil savings and other benefits from public transportation across
the country. The U.S. PIRG Education Fund
report, A Better Way to
Go: Meeting America’s 21st Century Transportation Challenges with
Modern Public Transit, examines the challenges faced by America’s
transportation system and the benefits of existing rail and bus projects in Maine and around New England.Portland
was ranked the 10th top urbanized area with population under 500,000
for oil savings from transit (see Table 8 on page 32 of A Better Way to Go).
“As students we have many
invested interests in public transit, especially here at USM with 80% commuter
student enrollment,” said Anna Korsen, Maine PIRG Board Member. “This report shows that investing in transit
now is the key to our future.”
According to the report, transit
in the Portland
urban area saved consumers $1.5 million in avoided gasoline costs (at 2006
prices of $2.68/gallon) and reduced oil use by 600,000 gallons. The study also
calculated that the Downeaster train service cut global warming pollution by
2,111 metric tons of global warming pollution in 2006 alone. Around the country
transit saves 3.4 billion gallons of oil each year, prevents 541 million hours
of traffic delay and reduces global warming pollution by 26 million tons.
Demand for public transportation is booming nationally, with transit trips far
outpacing the growth of auto miles or population since 1995.
“As the
House Chairman of the Maine's
Transportation Committee I can not over emphasis the need for a balanced
transportation network,” said Rep. Boyd Marley. “Given the needs of our aging
population we must develop comprehensive transit that will spur economic
development and move our citizens and visitors safety and efficiently through
the state.”
“If the state is serious
about cutting global warming pollution from transportation, then it needs to
prioritize the Downeaster train and other transit,” commented Matthew Davis, Organizational
Development Director of Environment Maine. “Maine can’t afford to lose this ace in the
hole.”
The Downeaster train service
has been wildly successful, with another roundtrip added to Boston last year, and ridership increasing 5
percent from 2006 to 2007 and 20 percent from 2007 to 2008 to date. Last year,
more than 345,000 passengers took the train. Federal funding runs out in 2009
at which point the state must fund the approximately $8 million to continue
operating the Downeaster. By funding the operation of the train, the state
would also enable the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority to take out
a loan to upgrade the tracks from Portland to Brunswick and expand service
northward by 2010.
“Moving ahead with the
Downeaster and other transit is a key step toward 21st century
transportation in Maine,”
said Patricia Quinn of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority. “This report shows that transit saves Mainers
energy, time, and money. With rising gas prices and increasing traffic
projected for the future, we can’t afford not to invest in popular projects
like this that meet our country’s long-term needs.”
"The Portland City Council has chosen to put
bus, rail, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure first by voting unanimously to
fund the Peninsula Transit Study while postponing the traffic study,” stated
City Councilor David Marshall. “The Peninsula Transit Study is underway
and its results will allow the City address our downtown transit needs."
More than $15 million of annual
economic activities in Maine and New Hampshire can be
attributed to the Downeaster. And the potential economic benefit realized by
the Downeaster in the two states may exceed $53 million per year by 2015.
“From the
perspective of business development, the reconstruction of rail road lines and
expansion of passenger and freight rail service in Maine is creating jobs and substantial
investment opportunities,” said Tony Donovan, a Portland Real Estate
broker. “Transit orientated development
is attracting a new demographic of residents, consumers and travelers that will
revive Maine's
service centers.”
National public opinion polls
that 53 percent of commuters would prefer to use more public transportation if
it were available near their home and workplace. An overwhelming majority of
the public, seventy-five percent, tell pollsters that transit is the best way
to fight traffic congestion.
“This report
shows why we need to keep and expand the Downeaster and other transit projects
here in Portland
instead of expanding roads,” said Wayne Davis of TrainRiders/Northeast. “It
puts clear numbers on how public transit reduces oil dependence, traffic
congestion, and global warming pollution.
Mainers need better transportation choices and need to get this project off the
drawing board and into action.”
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