Transportation Solutions News

Illinois Group and State Rep Call for Public Hearings on Gas Prices, Investment in Transit

Chicago – As Chicago consumers face upwards of $4.07 a gallon this Memorial Day Weekend, the consumer advocacy group Illinois Public Interest Research Group (Illinois PIRG) joined State Representative Marlow Colvin (Chicago), Chairman of the House Consumer Protection Committee, in calling for public hearings this summer to consider immediate and longer term policies that can help protect consumers from high gas prices.

“Illinois consumers are spending more for gas now than ever before, and it’s time for lawmakers to step up and work toward real solutions,” said State Representative Colvin. “It’s time we heard from all the stakeholders in this struggle against high gas prices. Public hearings of the Consumer Protection Committee will bring real policy solutions to light.”

“High gas prices will continue to hold consumers hostage until lawmakers implement solutions that reduce our reliance on oil,” said Emily Miller, a Staff Attorney with Illinois PIRG. “As consumers, we can’t force OPEC to lower the price they set for crude oil. However, there are policies that can help reduce our dependence on oil, so high gas prices don’t take such a big bite out of our pocketbooks.”

“Economists predict that gas prices will continue to rise through the summer,” continued Miller. “Lawmakers should consider real solutions and not a gas tax holiday that will only make things worse for consumers in the long run.”

In particular, the lack of action by lawmakers for capital investment in transit funding means fewer options for consumers who want to minimize the impact of record-high gas prices. A recent report authored by Illinois PIRG found transit in Northeastern Illinois is responsible for 269 million gallons of oil saved and over $1 billion dollars saved that would have otherwise been spent on gas.

Examples of state policies that should be considered by the committee to combat escalating prices include:

• -Promoting carpooling and more efficient driving;
• -Increasing funding and access to existing public transportation systems and other programs likely to see higher demand as gas prices rise;
• -Devoting additional resources to rideshare matching programs; and
• -Investigating whether oil companies or their affiliates are receiving windfall profits from high oil and gasoline prices.

For the medium term, Illinois should:

• -Increase support for expanded public transit
• -Provide incentives for the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles;
• -Encourage the spread of advanced-technology vehicles such as hybrid-electric cars;
• -Slow the growth of sprawling development patterns that increase dependence on motor vehicles.

At the same time, state officials will need to begin putting policies in place that will yield benefits in the longer term. Such policies include:

• -Acting to reshape communities to be less dependent upon the automobile;
• -Developing rail infrastructure to shift intercity trips and freight movement away from oil-intensive modes such as driving and air travel; and
• -Encouraging next generation advanced technology vehicles (e.g. those that operate primarily on electricity or renewably generated hydrogen).

TIPS FOR CONUMERS: Illinois PIRG provides tips for consumers this holiday weekend to alleviate their gas costs at www.illinoispirg.org.