New Energy Future Program News

Public transportation received a boost today as transit and environmental advocates held an event at the Dover Transportation Center rail station citing a major new report on oil savings and other benefits from public transportation across the country.  The US PIRG report, released by Environment New Hampshire, "A Better Way to Go: Meeting America’s 21st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit", examines the challenges faced by America’s transportation system and the benefits of existing rail and bus projects across the country.

According to the report, public transit in the Boston metro area, which includes New Hampshire, saves consumers $403 million at the pump. Around the country transit saves 3.4 billion gallons of oil each year, prevents 541 million hours of traffic delay and reduces global warming pollution by 26 million tons. Demand for public transportation is booming nationally, with transit trips far outpacing the growth of auto miles or population since 1995.

“This report shows why we need better transit in New Hampshire,” said Erika Staaf, Advocate for Environment New Hampshire. “It puts clear numbers on how public transit reduces oil dependence, global warming pollution, and traffic congestion.  New Hampshire residents and visitors need better transportation choices; we need to get projects off the drawing board and into action.”

In New Hampshire, one project proposed to move forward is the southern New Hampshire commuter rail. Commuters from New Hampshire to the city of Boston currently create more than 70,000 pounds of global warming emissions per year, and even more emissions are created by commuters heading to other Boston-area locations. Analysis conducted by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission estimated a potential local market of more than 19,000 daily riders and more than 70,000 occasional riders for a Manchester-Nashua-Boston rail service.

National public opinion polls show that 53 percent of commuters would prefer to use more public transportation if it were available near their home and workplace. An overwhelming majority of the public, 75 percent, tell pollsters that transit is the best way to fight traffic congestion. 

“Moving ahead with proposed public transit project such as the I-93 corridor commuter rail, is a key step toward 21st century transportation in New Hampshire,” said Staaf. “This report shows that transit saves New Hampshire travelers energy, time, and money. With rising gas prices and increasing traffic projected for the future, we can’t afford not to invest in popular projects like this that meet our state’s long-term needs.”