Transportation Solutions for Texas News

AUSTIN – A new report by TexPIRG finds that transit systems in Austin, Houston and DFW eliminated the need for more than 44 million gallons of oil in 2006, saving consumers more $116 million in saved gasoline costs and avoiding emissions of 270,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas. Austin transit also prevented what would have otherwise been an additional 1.7 million hours in traffic delays for drivers. The group pointed to the findings as evidence that further investments in transit, in particular the creation of an ultra light rail system for downtown Austin, will help reduce oil dependency and save consumers money.