This blog is the third in a three-part series examining what rising gas prices reveal about the U.S. transportation system. As global disruptions push fuel prices higher, this series explores how Americans are affected (part …
gas demand
Transportation disrupted: Rising prices expose a vulnerable system
When gas prices spike, millions of Americans have little choice but to pay the bill. That is not just a cost problem. It is a sign that the U.S. transportation system rests on a fragile foundation shaped by land use and infrastructure that require a car for most everyday trips. At the same time, the transition to electric vehicles remains slow and uneven.
Gas consumption down to 2000 levels
Better vehicle fuel-efficiency and moderating demand for highway travel are combining to push gasoline consumption down to its lowest levels since 2000. Despite our growing population, Americans are using less gas.The downward trend both exacerbates the erosion of fuel taxes as a source of transportation funding, but at the same time suggests that agencies may be able to economize by rethinking capacity projects.
Falling Gas Demand
After decades of increasing demand for gasoline, the decline that began in 2007 is expected to accelerate, according to a experts from consulting, industry and environmental groups cited in this article.