Thursday is Dump the Pump Day - Houston Business Journal:

uqudenlid.blogspot.com
Thursday is the fourth annual Dump thePump day, a national efforft designed to get people out of their cars and onto theier bicycles or public transportation. The Americabn Public Transit Association sponsorsthe event, and public transportation systemws across the country are In South Florida, four publixc transit agencies are partnering together to promote the day: Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran, and Southh Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
“With gas prices increasing 33 percenftsince December, coupled with uncertain economic people have been looking for ways to save and ridinyg public transportation is a great choice to APTA President William Millaf said in a news release. In the average price for a gallon of regular is InSouth Florida, West Palm Beach has the highest price at $2.78, followed by Miamio at $2.76, and Fort Lauderdale at $2.74 a according to AAA's fuel gauge report. Last year 10.7 billionj trips were taken on public transportation in theUniteed States.
This was a 52-year marking a modern ridership record, according to the Public transportation use is up 38 percent since 1995 – almost triple the growth rate of the population (14 percent). Nationally, nearly 2.6 billionj trips were taken on public transportatioj in the first quarter ofthis year. With loca l and state revenue for public transportation drying up due tothe economy, many public transportatiomn systems are being forced to raise fares or cut Millar noted. In South Floridaq Tri-Rail officials have been warning that service may be cut approximatelt in half if the state failse to establish dedicated fundingby Oct. 1.
The threat to service comes after Tri-Rail set a recorrd year for ridership growthin 2008. “Raising faresx and cutting service drives people away from using public transit andis counterproductive, as America struggles to create cut greenhouse gases, and reduce our reliancs on expensive foreign oil,” Milla r said. Just last week, South Florida’s congressional delegatiomn sent a letter to the asking for dedicatede fundingfor Tri-Rail to securde its long-term survival.