June 15, 2011
(Albany, NY) - The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and several local municipalities have jumped onboard with hundreds of other national transit agencies to participate in the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Sixth Annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 16th. The awareness campaign is designed to encourage people to ride public transportation and save money, instead of driving a car.
Several Capital Region local city and county government entities have affirmed their support for public transportation use and investment by officially proclaiming June 16th “CDTA Dump the Pump” day.
The public is also invited to pledge their support for public transit online at www.cdta.org, and leave their vehicle at home. All Dump the Pump pledge makers will receive a complimentary Day Pass and be entered to win an additional $100 in CDTA passes along with a CDTA gift bag. All pledges must be made by 11:59 pm on Wednesday June 15, 2011. The winner will be randomly drawn and contacted during the week of June 20th.
With high gas prices amid an unsettled economy, there is no better time to support public transportation systems around the country. Earlier this year, APTA showed that rising gas prices translate to proportional growth in public transportation ridership. If gas rises to $5 a gallon, APTA predicts Americans will take 1.5 billion additional trips on public transit systems nationally. According to the latest APTA Transit Savings Report individuals in a two person household can save an average of more than $9,000 annually by downsizing to one car.
APTA research also found that a person with a 20-mile round trip commute who switches to using public transportation can reduce his or her daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds per day, or more than 4,800 pounds a year. Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 900,000 automobile fill-ups every day, which is 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually.
For other CDTA information, contact CDTA’s Customer Information Center at 482-8822 or visit www.cdta.org. Information operators are on duty 6am-7pm weekdays and 8:00am-6pm weekends and holidays. Stay connected with CDTA news by visiting CDTA’s facebook site, or following twitter @CDTA. For more information on APTA’s Dump the Pump program visit www.apta.com.
