Governor Granholm Highlights Public Transportation as an Alternative Way to Save Money
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Categories: General
Contact: Barbara Hicks, MDOT
517-335-3084
July 17, 2008
Governor Granholm Highlights Public Transportation as Alternative Way to Save Money
Part of governor's continued efforts to protect consumers' pocketbooks
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today reminded citizens that as they look for ways to save money, public transportation can offer an alternative to $4-a-gallon gas prices. As part of the governor's continued efforts to protect consumers' pocketbooks, Granholm encouraged citizens to visit www.michigan.gov/savemoney where they can find information on public transportation and other money-saving tips.
'For Michigan citizens looking for ways to save money, using public transportation to get to work or school offers a way to do so, 'Granholm said. 'When you consider the price of gas, coupled with the price of parking, purchasing a bus pass may be the better deal.'
Today, Granholm rode a Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) bus to her office - a ride that cost $1.25.
Granholm noted that taking the bus could save commuters as much as $1,160 a year, or $97 a month, based on data provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and AAA Michigan. Those figures are based on a number of factors, including the price of gas and miles driven. The SaveMoney Web feature offers a calculator motorists can use to compute their cost of commuting.
According to the MDOT, at least 80 percent of Michigan's population resides in a community that has a local bus system that can get them to work, shopping, medical appointments, and recreation.
The state's website - www.michigan.gov/savemoney - combines information from throughout state government into one, easy-to-find location and provides consumers with money-saving tips. The website currently highlights information on ways consumers can save money on gas by adopting alternative forms of transportation and following suggested driving tips. The site includes a variety of tips from how to stretch your gas dollar, to finding the best deal on gas in your neighborhood, to finding car pool and local public bus systems information. A resource called 'the cost to commute calculator' gives information on how much your commute costs and how much you can save by car pooling.