"Americans logging fewer miles on road
WASHINGTON - Motorists drove 9 billion fewer miles on the nation's roads in October even as gas prices were dropping, suggesting a downturn in driving that began a year ago is attributable to more than just energy costs....
"The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping confirms that America's travel habits are fundamentally changing," Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said....
Yeah, all the LOST JOBS would have nothing to do with it!
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While driving declined, subways, buses, commuter rail, and light-rail systems have reported record increases in ridership. Amtrak, the nation's intercity passenger railroad, said it carried the highest number of passengers and brought in the most revenue in fiscal 2008 in its 37-year history.
It is likely that the economic crisis is an important factor in the driving decline, said David Goldberg, a spokesman for Transportation for America, a coalition of groups pressing for more alternatives to driving. Peters worried that the decline in driving is widening a gap between federal gas tax revenues and the government's commitments to fund state and local highway projects.
Wait a minute!! If I SAVE the ENVIRONMENT I'm SHORT-CHANGING ROAD REPAIR? You get POOCHED no matter which way you turn, don't you, Amurkn?
And Peters is WORRIED about that?
Yeah, carbon caps and global warming, yup!! Pffffffffffftttt!
