Yesterday the US Senate voted to pass an energy bill which will raise CAFE standards for vehicles sold in the United States from 27.5 mpg to 35 mpg for light cars and 22.2 mpg for minivans, SUVS and other light trucks.
The energy bill also plans a massive increase in 'greener fuel sources' such as ethanol (up to 36 billion gallons by 2022).
The passing of the energy bill happened with the caveat that planned taxes against the oil industry to support renewable electricity projects such as solar and wind. Meanwhile the price of oil continues to rise resulting in price increases in all manners of transportation related industry and infrastructure.
I grow curious of what the magic cost would be to break America from our dependence on the automobile. Will $6 a gallon create enough of an incentive for people to move closer where they work? Will a larger and more captive ridership allow GCRTA to grow into a full time and more intuitive service (I love the GCRTA, I just wish I could figure out on the fly how to get places)? Could an easier and quicker public transportation system allow more downtown development and a reduction of parking structure/lots for actual speculative structures?
I hope so.
resources:
BBC
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