Speaking of transit money:

House Transportation Committee passed the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act (HR 6052). At a time of record high gas prices – Hartford and Chicago are in the $4 gallon range with the national average not far behind – the bill would authorize $1.7 billion in grant funding for public transit.

The bill recognizes that some 37 million metric tones of carbon dioxide are saved annually by the 10.3 billion public transit trips Americans took in 2007. And, as a daily public transit rider myself, I appreciate the estimated annual cost-savings of $6,251 (as per the American Public Transportation Association).

The grant funding is broken out thusly: $750 million for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for urbanized areas and $100 million for non-urbanized areas.

Again, that’s not all that much, but it’s better to have it than not have it. And maybe political leaders will get in the habit of allocating money for transit and just keep on doing it.

But in selling this to voters, we should remember that while the carbon dioxide savings are important, this will give drivers a way to avoid high gas prices and choking congestion. Appeal to their (direct) self-interest!

(H/T)