Be part of a nationwide campaign [.PDF 94kb 2 pages] on Thursday, June 21 to reduce traffic congestion, protect the environment, and put a little money back in your wallet by "dumping the pump" and traveling by public transit

King County Metro Transit, together with other transit agencies in the Puget Sound region, is participating in the nationwide campaign to encourage local residents to leave their cars at home and try public transit.

"Dump the Pump" is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association [external link]. The promotion was created to help spread the word that public transit offers the quickest, easiest alternative to the high cost of driving, and helps save the environment.

Metro has been working hard for the environment

Metro has always been a strong supporter of providing transit service and programs that are good for the environment and quality of life in the Puget Sound region, and continues to be diligent in its efforts to promote the economic and environmental benefits of public transportation. That's why Metro is recognized as being one of the greenest public transportation agencies in the nation. Here are a few reasons why:

• Metro participated this spring in the Healthy Living Expo at Qwest Field, and signed up 1,000 people to pledge to change their commute habits through Metro's "In Motion" program.
• Metro led the region in providing free bus rides on Earth Day, April 22.
• Metro announced a new initiative that "closes the loop" in turning biosolids, into fertilizer for Eastern Washington canola crops, which are then used to produce biodiesel for Metro buses and other King County vehicles.
• Metro announced a new purchasing contract that will allow it to buy up to 500 new buses, many of which will be hybrids. Metro already operates the largest fleet of hybrid-powered articulated buses in North America. Metro also operates the largest public commuter van fleet in the United States.
• And, Metro bus routes serve hundreds of Flexcar locations, giving people an opportunity to combine public transportation with car sharing. It's estimated that the use of each Flexcar helps take 15 other cars off the road.
• During the period June 2006 and May 2007, Metro Rideshare Operations ran a campaign called Fill It Up that resulted in the addition of 82 new commuter van groups; a 9% increase in fleet size along with a 15% increase in ridership.

Here are some tips about the money folks have saved & how they did it.

Metro: We'll get you there!

Metro offers comprehensive bus services throughout King County, with a system that features close to 300 different routes and 10,000 stops. It offers 129 park-and-ride lots and garages (many which also include bike lockers) that offer free parking and great transportation connections around the county. It has the largest public commuter van program in the country serving nearly 1,000 groups. Metro provides a whole host of tools to help people try their many services:

• Trip Planner: Plan your trip between any two points online. You'll get a bus schedule instantaneously.
• Park-and-ride locations: Cut the distance you drive on your daily commute by using one of Metro's convenient park-and-ride lots.
• RideshareOnline.com: It's easy to find ways share the ride for carpooling, vanpooling, and vansharing.
• For 24-hour personal rider information service via the phone, call 206-553-3000.

Metro's public service announcements dramatize the high price of gas

These announcements, which take a lighter approach to high gas prices vs. the cost of riding Metro, are now airing on the King County's television station, KCTV.

• Announcement 1 (Real Media)
• Announcement 1 (Windows Media)

and

• Announcement 2 (Real Media)
• Announcement 2 (Windows Media)

The facts

Did you know?

Public transportation ridership:

• In 2006, Americans took 10.1 billion trips on public transportation - the highest ridership level in 49 years;
• 34 million times each weekday, people board public transportation;
• From 1995 through 2006, public transportation ridership increased by 30 percent, a growth rate higher than the 12 percent increase in US population and higher than the 24 percent growth in use of the nation's highways over the same period.

Energy Conservation - Reducing national dependence on foreign oil:

• Each year, public transportation use in the U.S. saves 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline. This represents almost 4 million gallons of gasoline per day;
• Public transportation use saves the equivalent of 300,000 fewer automobile fill-ups every day - 108 million fewer cars filling up annually;
• Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 34 supertankers of oil, or a supertanker leaving the Middle East every 11 days;
• Each year, public transportation use saves the equivalent of 140,769 service station tanker truck trips clogging our streets;
• The typical public transit rider consumes, on average, one half of the oil consumed by an automobile rider.

Individual cost savings:

• Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary alternative to driving.
• Each year public transportation households save over $1,399 worth of gas.
• Transit availability can reduce the need for an additional car, a yearly expense of $6,251 in a household budget.
• The average household spends 18 cents on transportation, and 94 percent of this goes to buying, maintaining and operating cars.
• Americans living in areas served by public transportation save $18 billion annually in congestion costs.

Environmental conservation:

• Public transportation use can help reduce pollution and promote cleaner air;
• Public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide (CO), 90 percent less in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), per passenger mile than private vehicles;
• Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82 percent of total U.S. man-made greenhouse emissions;
• By reducing smog-producing pollutants and greenhouse gases and by conserving ecologically sensitive lands and open spaces -- public transportation is helping to meet national air quality standards.

King County Metro Transit is among the 10 largest bus systems in the nation. Metro buses provide more than 100 million passenger trips a year, and the agency operates one of the largest vanpool and park-and-ride programs in the country. It is also recognized as a leader in reducing pollution with its use of clean-burning fuels, electric trolleys, and hybrid buses.