The Transit blog, No. 7 for the week starting June 9, 2008.
Monday
CDTA Looks At Service Expansions
This De Roiser's View Also Explains A Lot
Tuesday
Transit Operators: Release State Funds
More Motorists Change Their Habits As Gas Prices Hit 'Tipping Point'
Daily Gazette: Use Mass Transit Money to Offset Fuel Costs
Daily Gazette: Can Mistakes in Exit 9 Area Be Undone?
Wednesday
To Save Fuel, Airlines Find No Speck Too Small
When They Tow a 1/2 Million Dollar CDTA Hybrid Bus Back to Garage
As Oil Rises, Americans Rediscover the Railroad
Fake Engine Noise Makes Electric Cars Safer
Chevy Silverado Hybrid Interview by Pickuptruckcom.
Thursday
Two Die in European Truck Drivers' Fuel Price Protest
Saturday
Forty Years Since the Death of Mid-Cross Arterial
Boondocks is about farms, rural life, and power toys.
Energy looks at high energy prices and our future.
Enviroman looks at man and the environment.
Hayseeds looks at politics and life in our nation.
Individual looks at myself and how I'm changing
Outblog is all about my outdoor experiences.
Truck gives you stories and trips in my Ford Ranger.
Spanish Truckers Block Border. Another day, another protest against absurdly expensive gasoline and diesel. P'Link
CDTA Looks At Service Expansions. But they are really expensive, and requires big government grants.
Apparently each new bus costs about a half million dollars a piece. Operating the bus, including paying the driver, maintaining the bus, and paying for fuel costs about $120 a hour. Fares pay only on average 20% of the cost of bus service.
It's understandable why there is so little new service. But in these times, it's important that we be looking for more public money to ensure people can still get around at a reasonable price. P'Link
Blame Marquill. This cartoon explains a lot:
This De Roiser's View Also Explains A Lot. You can comment here:
Transit Operators: Release State Funds. Apparently the state has been deliquent in releasing funds for transit aid, which are much needed with increased ridership and high fuel costs.
More Motorists Change Their Habits As Gas Prices Hit 'Tipping Point'. The Buffalo News looks at how more people are biking to work or taking the bus with high gas prices. P'Link
Daily Gazette: Use Mass Transit Money to Offset Fuel Costs. They are calling for more state money to keep fares down and expand service. P'Link
Daily Gazette: Can Mistakes in Exit 9 Area Be Undone? They question whether or not suburban sprawl can be made pedestrian friendly. P'Link
Price Elasticity of Gasoline. How much of an impact has rising gas prices having on driving? That's a question often asked by economists when they study the price elasticity of demand (PED).
It turns out, not surpisingly, that the price elasticity of demand for gasoline is quite low in the short run. The experts used to say in 1970s and 1980s that:
The that meant that in the 1970s, for every 10% increase in gas prices, such as from $1 to $1.10, gasoline consumption would drop 2.6%. That would mean people would drive about 1% less and 2.5% would be gained by more efficent driving, less traffic, more efficent cars.
A Study from U Davis says that PED of gasoline today is much higher as cars are more fuel efficent, so fuel price hikes have a smaller impact on a person's total income, and driving style changes effect consumption less.
They estimate that today:
That means when gas goes from $4.00 to $4.40 a gallon, a 10% increase, that drivers will drive only 0.5% less then they did they did previously. That means that at least in a short run, driving patterns aren't going to be changed that much by high gas prices.
Why?
So while some people think that rising fuel prices will have desired effect of getting people out of cars and revingerating transit, it takes a lot of pain at the pump to do it successfully.
High gas prices just mean people pay more with little change of consumer behavior. P'Link
To Save Fuel, Airlines Find No Speck Too Small. Airlines in their attempt to save money are increasingly cleaning engines and replacing heavier gear to save a few percent on fuel off of every ride, which is becoming one of the biggest expenses in flying. P'Link
When They Tow a 1/2 Million Dollar CDTA Hybrid Bus Back to Garage. Guess what kids. I was looking out the window at my office and noticed them towing back one of those brand new buses to the garage.
The oldest hybrid bus in their fleet dates back to last year in Summer 2007. This unbelievable that for such an investment, they'd already have their equipment breaking down. I realize that even new cars sometimes fail and break down, but it shouldn't be so common that a mere mortal like me can look out the window and see it being towed back to the garage.
As Oil Rises, Americans Rediscover the Railroad. More people are taking passenger rail. P'Link
Fake Engine Noise Makes Electric Cars Safer. This is interesting:
Chevy Silverado Hybrid Interview by Pickuptruck.com. This is interesting:
Two Die in European Truck Drivers' Fuel Price Protest. Delays in moving products and foods has caused the death of two people. P'Link
Forty Years Since the Death of Mid-Cross Arterial. Some activists are celebrating the anniversary of the first major highway project cancellation in Albany, looking back to that date and the history that would have been destroyed had Rocky gotten his way and built the Mid-Crosstown Arterial through Center Square, Lark Street, and out to Route 9W/I-787 to the south and Route 9/Loundville/I-90 to the north.
I have my doubts about the real impact of the highway, especially if had been built largely underground under the park, and was below level to the rest of the surrounding area. The gap would have somewhat divided the neighborhoods, but if enough money had been spent to connect surface streets, the impact would not have been that great.
That said, it would have been awfully costful project to have been done right, with limited connections to the city. Today, with the costs of high fuel prices, and concerns about global warming, the project doesn't make any sense at all. At one time though, it might have helped reduced congestion at plaza at rush hour, and made it quicker to move through the city.
Capital Highways looks at the history of this highway. P'Link
Copyright ©1999-2008 Andy Arthur.
All mistakes are intentional or otherwise.
Mind where you step in a cow pasture or legal mindfield.
