A Glimpse into Transportation at Large...

Going Green
Engineers and designers in several industries including the auto industry will go green piece by piece. [Source: The Detroit News]



55 Years of Oil
Shell Oil Company says it has enough oil to maintain production at current levels for the next 55 years. [Source: Financial Times]



Gas Consumed
Vermonter's consumed 10 gallons of gasoline per person per week in 2006 - where do other states stand and where are we heading? [Source: Oakland Tribune]



Venezuela says...
Food for Fuel is criminal. [Source: Bloomberg]



Railroads are Full Steam Ahead
Rail is on the rise. [Source: Washington Post]



Suspend the Gas Tax?
Clinton and McCain see eye to eye on suspending the federal gas tax this summer. Obama, however, firmly opposes this proposal. What do you think? [Source: New York Times]

Weekly Petro-Stats

Gas at the Pump, Vermont

This Week (April 23-29) = $3.398/gallon
Last Week (April 15-22) = $3.421/gallon
Last Year (April 23- 30) = $2.860/gallon



Crude Oil Futures

This Week (April 23-29) = $117.45/barrel
Last Week (April 15-22) = $116.19/barrel

Oil Prices to Remain High

The United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently reported that petroleum sales are likely to fall this year, but costs will remain high. With a slowing economy and high fuel costs the EIA report says the consumption of liquid fuels will drop by approximately 85,000 barrels per day. Nevertheless, the price per barrel will likely average $101 for the 2008 year - a price $7 higher than last month's outlook. Gas at the pump is said to be $3.54 a gallon on average this summer, with the possibility of prices hitting $4 a gallon in California and the Midwest. [Source: Energy Information Administration]

Big Oil

Despite hard economic times and rising fuel prices Big Oil companies are making record profits. Consequently, the Vermont State Senate has called on Attorney General William Sorrell to begin a criminal investigation of major oil companies. Not knowing where the investigation may go, Sorrel is looking to find evidence of possible price-fixing, consumer fraud, or other unlawful activity. Exxon Mobil Corp. made a record $40 billion last year, while Roland Bellavance, head of a Barre trucking company and president of the Vermont Truck and Bus Association has said his company is spending $1.5 million more this year to fuel his fleet. The senate resolution also calls for Sorrel to partner with other states in this investigation. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

Money From Other Places

Roads in dire need of repair find the money, but not without some bad news to multi-modal projects. Brattleboro roads suffered, as did so many others in the state, this winter. Deep ruts in town and state highways have cost drivers their car's alignment, flat tires, and time. This will soon be fixed, but not without additional costs. Brattleboro, for one, will no longer receive money for its multi-modal project from the state this year. Although, the federal government will still provide Vermont with money for bike/ped and like projects, the state has redirected its $114,000 multi-modal allotment to the road emergency fix-up fund. The multi-modal project in Brattleboro has already seen a two year delay, and John Leisenring, Brattleboro's finance director, says the project isn't getting any cheaper. [Source: The Reformer]

Slow Down & Save Some Money

Slowing down could make driving significantly cheaper. During the energy crisis of the 1970's a 55 mile per hour (mph) highway speed was instituted as a response to gas pumps running out of fuel. Today the most efficient speed remains in the 55 mph range. Although very unlikely that posted speeds will drop, making the decision to drive slower could save people a pretty penny. Driving fast affects your wallet so much that once you hit 60 mph on the highway, each additional 10 mph (70, 80, 90...) is equivalent to the price of gas rising by 54 cents a gallon. Roger Clark, a fuel economy engineer for General Motors says at highway speeds pushing air around takes up 40% of the vehicles energy. Drivers lose approximately 4 miles per gallon with each 10 mph jump in speed. [Source: CNN Money]

Food or Fuel?

Riots are breaking out around the world in Haiti and Egypt over the high prices of food. High fuel prices are also influencing violence in impoverished nations, while also leading to an increase in the use of ethanol and biodiesel in Europe, the U.S., and other wealthier nations. With the increased demand for ethanol and biodiesel, coming predominantly from food crops, a web of high food and fuel prices is causing complications. The price of corn in the U.S. has more than doubled in the last year driven partly by the demand for ethanol. World Bank President Robert Zoellick says biofuels are a major factor in the spike of food prices. [Source: NPR]

In National Clean Cities News...

"PHEV Publicity"
Vermont makes the National Clean Cities News with the PHEV report released by the University of Vermont Transportation Research Center, the host of the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition, and partners. [Source: U.S. Department of Energy]

In Other Vermont Transportation News...

Questions on Vermont's Energy Future

Passing of the state's energy bill sees questions from the Transportation Committee and others. [Source: Burlington Free Press]



$500K

It is official Bennington will receive $500,000 from an earmark secured by U.S. Rep. Peter Welch for a pedestrian underpass. [Source: Bennington Banner]



Toxins & Transit

Site in Montpelier with plans for a multi-modal transit and welcome center with millions in funds already secured to be tested for PCBs... [Source: Times Argus]



Idle-Free Updates

Idling Updates from Idle-Free Vermont... Click Here!

A Glimpse into Transportation at Large...

Diesel vs. Hybrid
New diesel-powered passenger cars are beginning to hit the market. They may not be quite as clean as other vehicles on the road, but could get better fuel mileage. Should hybrids be nervous? [Source: Business Week]



Alternative Fuel Vehicles on the Rise
Approximately 1.8 million alternative-fuel vehicles were sold in the U.S. last year - a 15% increase over 2006 sales. [Source: EE News]



Bike Library
Fort Collins Colorado has a new library in town - a bike library. [Source: The Denver Channel]



Silent Hybrids
Hybrid cars cause a problem for the blind. [Source: The Examiner]


Telecommute
Read up on telecommuting in the most recent release of The Teleworker.

Weekly Petro-Stats

Gas at the Pump, Vermont

This Week (April 9-14) = $3.333/gallon
Last Week (April 3-8) = $3.264/gallon


Crude Oil Futures

This Week (April 9-14) = $110.72/barrel
Last Week (April 3-8) = $106.91/barrel

Sources: Gas VT, Crude Oil

No Break in Rising Fuel Prices

Filling up on regular unleaded gasoline is no longer $20 or so dollars (depending on tank size) like it was a little over a half-decade ago. As a result, Vermonter's are feeling the weight on their wallets. Vermont residents are spending 60% more on liquid fuels than they were 5 years ago, a percent equivalent to $800 million. Even more, gas prices are expected to hit $4 a gallon by mid summer. With little relief in sight at the gas pump, people and businesses in the state are cutting their discretionary spending and looking to alternatives. Marble Valley Regional Transit District, a public-transit service in the Rutland region, has seen ridership increase as much as 35% on some routes in the past year. Furthermore, companies like Casella are adopting new limits on idling time. [Source: Rutland Herald]

Ethanol to Port

Not on Vermont shores, but will the state feel the impacts of the new ethanol plant planned for the Port of Albany? Regardless of recent criticism of the fuel, ethanol plants continue to pop up. Albany Renewable Energy's plant, to be located along 20 acres of waterfront property in New York, is among one of these pop ups. The $350 million plant plans to create 600,000 tons of cargo and bring 350 barges in and out of the Port of Albany a year. At present, no barges enter this port. The plant is set to be completed by late 2009 early 2010. [Source: American City Business Journals]

Increased Ridership = New Services

Ellen Atkinson, community outreach director for Marble Valley Regional Transit District, says people are now more willing to leave their houses 20 minutes earlier to avoid driving their cars. Consequently, ridership is booming and at least one new service is being added. A midday bus service from Rutland to Middlebury will hit the streets April 15th. Marble Valley Regional Transit and Addison County Transit Resources will connect in Brandon leaving Middlebury at 11:20 a.m. and Rutland at 11:30 a.m. to bring passengers north to south or vice versa. The decision to install this new route came after a survey of riders showed that 60% would like to see a midday service. Increased ridership on several routes throughout the state also helped in the decision making, and will likely be a factor in the development of new strategic plans. [Sources: Rutland Herald & Boston Globe]

Streetscape Revival

Pedestrians in the town of Richmond may be facing a brighter future. A Vermont Transportation Enhancement grant awarded to the town is helping to revive a streetscape project that if successful will level the playing field for pedestrians, motorists, and bicyclists. The $31,000 project hopes to bring aesthetic balance, along with commercial and transportation needs to the village center. Project leader, Erik Sandblom, a civil engineer and Kathleen Ryan, a landscape architect on the design team are working diligently on different revived streetscape options. The construction of one of these options could begin as early as next year. For more information visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ey5xplcab.0.0.78995ccab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.richmondvt.com%2F&id=preview. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

Crumbling Roads

Vermont roads are in rough condition this year after a winter that just won't seem to disappear. Governor Douglas says an emergency fix-up program is necessary. Consequently, the governor's administration is now on the hunt for an extra $3 million for the program the governor has named "Operation Smooth Ride". Neal Lunderville, Secretary of Transportation, announced today that he has found a way to free up this sum by taking money from the town highway emergency fund, a bike and ped fund, as well as borrowing from next year's allocation for road-leveling work. Nevertheless, some lawmakers are weary of where this $3 million is coming from, but don't disagree that paving and repair is necessary. The most recent pavement report deemed 21% of the state roads in very poor condition. A smoother ride would mean less congestion, which in theory would mean less green house gas emissions. [Source: Burlington Free Press & Burlington Free Press]

An Idling Law Set in Stone?

Arguments by the general manager of Mountain Transit Inc. of Milton, John Sharrow, to allow school buses to idle longer were unconvincing to lawmakers. A law passed in 2007 that bans school buses from idling on school grounds was initiated by Browns River Middle School students in Jericho. The students pushed the point that idling creates an unhealthy environment. The rules that govern the bus drivers say that a bus may not idle on school grounds for more than 5 minutes in a 60 minute time period. Sharrow's main argument was that, under these rules, bus cabins cannot warm up and that no consideration is being given to the driver and individuals in the bus. [Source:Burlington Free Press]

In Other Vermont Transportation News...

Carbon & Climate

Vermont's leading climate scientist takes a critical, yet optimistic look at carbon dioxide and our warming planet. [Source: Times Argus]

Goodbye to the Name Vermont Transit

A Greyhound merger means the end of the Vermont Transit name and a few jobs, but not any of the services. [Source: Times Argus]

Native Artifacts

An extension to a Chittenden County bike path runs into history. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

Safety Tips

Jericho Elementary Students and their parents get a lesson on safety through the Safe Routes to School Program. [Source: Burlington Free Press]

New Transit Headquarters

Addison County Transit Resources looks to build new $4 million headquarters. [Source: Addison Independent]

$500K for a Pedestrian Underpass

Representative Welch plans to bring some money to Bennington for a pedestrian underpass. [Source: Rutland Herald]

A Glimpse into Transporation at Large...

Cali Drops Expectations on Emissions

The bar has been dropped on California's Auto Emission Rule. [Source: Google AP]



EPA & Cleaner Diesel

The EPA's Northeast Diesel Collaborative is helping clean up school bus emissions in Puerto Rico, New Hampshire and other U.S. states concentrated mostly in the New England region. [Sources: Nashua Telegraph & EPA.gov]



Why not US?

Two-thirds of the 113 most highly efficient cars available to Europeans are not available to U.S. consumers. [Source: MSNBC]

Weekly Petro-Stats

Gas at the Pump, Vermont


This Week (March 26 - April 2) = $3.256/gallon
Last Week (March 19 - 25) = $3.255/gallon



Crude Oil Futures


This Week (March 26 - April 2) = $104.42/barrel

Last Week (March 19 - 25) = $102.10/barrel

Sources: Gas VT, Crude Oil