Dump the Pump Day is This Thursday

With high gas prices forecasted for the rest of the summer, now is the perfect time to try transit. June 16 is the sixth annual National Dump the Pump Day, and Port Authority of Allegheny County – along with transit agencies around the country – is encouraging people to save money by parking the car and using public transportation instead.

Pittsburghers can save an average of $799 monthly and $9,583 annually by using transit, according to the latest figures from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which founded National Dump the Pump Day in 2006.

To calculate your individual savings, visit APTA’s Fuel Savings Calculator.

The benefits of public transit aren’t limited to your wallet. Consider the environmental impact of “dumping the pump”:

• Public transportation use in the United States reduces our nation’s carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households, or every household in Washington DC, New York City, Atlanta, Denver and Los Angeles combined.
• One person switching to public transit can reduce daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or more than 4,800 pounds in a year.

See how you can reduce your carbon footprint by using public transit with the Carbon Savings Calculator.

To plan your trip using Port Authority transit, try our Trip Planner, view our Park and Ride information or call Customer Service at 412-442-2000 or for TTY, 412-231-7007.