Thursday is Dump the Pump Day - Phoenix Business Journal:

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Thursday is the fourth annuaol Dump thePump day, a national effort designed to get people out of their cars and onto their bicycles or public The American Public Transit Association sponsors the event, and publivc transportation systems across the country are In South Florida, four public transit agencies are partneringg together to promote the day: Broward County Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran, and South Florida Regiona Transportation Authority.
“With gas prices increasing 33 percentsince December, couplex with uncertain economic times, people have been looking for ways to save and ridinb public transportation is a great choice to make,” APTA President William Millad said in a news release. In the average price for a gallon of regularis $2.69. In Soutuh Florida, West Palm Beach has the highest priceat $2.78, followed by Miamui at $2.76, and Fort Lauderdale at $2.74 a according to AAA's fuel gauge Last year 10.7 billion trips were taken on publicf transportation in the United This was a 52-yeaf high, marking a modern ridership record, accordinbg to the APTA.
Public transportation use is up 38 percentr since1995 – almost triplee the growth rate of the population (14 percent). Nationally, nearlg 2.6 billion trips were taken on public transportationm in the first quarter of this With local and state revenue for public transportationm drying up due tothe economy, many publif transportation systems are being forced to raise fares or cut Millar noted. In South Florida Tri-Raiol officials have been warning that service may be cut approximatelg in half if the stater fails to establish dedicated fundinfby Oct. 1. The threat to service comex after Tri-Rail set a recordc year for ridership growthin 2008.
“Raising fares and cutting servicwe drives people away from usinb public transit andis counterproductive, as Americqa struggles to create jobs, cut greenhousse gases, and reduce our reliance on expensive foreign Millar said. Just last week, South Florida’s congressionalo delegation sent a letter to the asking for dedicated fundinfor Tri-Rail to secure its long-term survival.