ECO-TRANSPORTATION CARS | VAN POOLS | EBIKES | SCOOTERS | NATURAL TRANSPORTATION
For those of you who are still unable to astral project or don’t have access to transporter, you have to get around somehow. Welcome to ILG’s comprehensive-as-possible guide to ecotransportation. Send additional suggestions for alternative modes of travel to us at jpoyser@ indianalivinggreen.com. Happy travels! — ILG STAFF
The green mile per gallon According to the Environmental Protection Agency, two-thirds of carbon monoxide emissions come from transportation sources – in particular, motor vehicles. At least half the ozone pollution comes from cars, buses, trucks and off-highway vehicles including construction equipment and boats. Of all the activities the average person does on a daily basis, driving a motor vehicle is typically the most polluting. In central Indiana, alternatives to driving, such as bicycling and riding the bus, are not always practical. Nevertheless, some choices can reduce pollution and emissions. For example, a natural gas vehicle can reduce CO2 emissions up to 30 percent and toxic pollutants by up to 90 percent. An electric vehicle can reduce emissions by 35-60 percent. Rising fuel prices, growing environmental concerns and higher fuel economy standards are influencing public demand for gas-guzzler alternatives. But although more manufacturers are producing vehicles to answer that demand,
they face challenges to sell them, in part because of their higher cost. To offset the higher sticker price, the federal government has offered an income tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 for natural gas, electric and plugin hybrid electric vehicles purchased in or after 2010. The credit amount varies, based on the capacity of the battery used to fuel the vehicle. President Obama’s proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget includes a new provision for hybrid and electric car tax credits that would broaden the range of eligible cars and eliminate caps on the number of rebates awarded. It’s part of the president’s plan to put one million electric and hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015. While the plan would increase the rebate to $10,000, the tax credit shifts from the consumer to the dealer, although certainly the intent is for the dealer to pass along any savings. To sweeten the deal, some states have begun offering additional tax rebates. California recently initiated a $1,500 rebate when a qualifying “green” vehicle is purchased. But are the tax credits enough to encourage CONTINUED ON PG. 10
Transportation: Some essential facts Indiana is 36,418 square miles, including over 95,000 total miles of road, 1,100 miles of interstate highways, placing us sixth in the nation for total road density and ninth for interstate highway density. (SOURCE: INDOT Major Moves)
Metric Tons of Co2 from transportation per capita • U.S. average 6.9 tons • Indiana average 8.6 tons (SOURCE: t4america.org/statefacts/indiana/)
One person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year. Public transit means less driving and decreased air pollution. Substandard air quality means possible restrictions on economic growth and puts federal transportation funding at risk. About 60 percent of Central Indiana’s ozone pollution comes from motor vehicles. (SOURCE: Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization)
Over 5 percent of the metro Indianapolis area households do not have an automobile. (SOURCE: Brookings Institution)
Transportation is the second largest household expense
— after housing — for Midwest U.S. residents who spend over 16 cents of every dollar on transportation. (SOURCE: Consumer Expenditure Survey, US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
FY 2012 Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) expenditures • 97 percent of Indiana transportation funds spent on roads • 3 percent spent on public transit, rail, intermodal operating • $20,000 for passenger rail and high speed rail (State of Illinois spends 1,400 times this amount — $28 million) (SOURCE: Hoosier Environmental Council)
An economic study done for the Midwest Regional Rail System found that investment in high speed passenger rail in Indiana would create over 4,500 new jobs, and provide $86 million in extra household income. Total user benefits for Indiana are estimated to be $2.3 billion to $3.5 billion. (SOURCE: INDOT) Transit saves money — a two-person household can save as much as $10,000 a year by using transit. (SOURCE: American Public Transportation Association)
Current U.S. public transit usage reduces gasoline consumption by 4.2 billion gallons a year. (SOURCE: American Public Transportation Association)
Forty-two percent of U.S. oil imports come from OPEC countries, many of whom are unfriendly to the U.S. (SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy) ILG
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SEPTEMBER 2012
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