Standing Up To Powerful Interests
Efficient public transportation systems like intercity rail and clean bus systems would make America's transportation future better for everyone by reducing traffic congestion and pollution, and increasing our options for getting around.
Reforming our broken transportation system
Changing Transportation: U.S. PIRG's series of reports on the dramatic changes underway in how Americans want to get around.
In the 20th century, Americans fell in love with the car. Driving a car became a rite of passage. Owning a car became a symbol of American freedom and mobility. And so we invested in a network of interstate highways that facilitated travel and connected the nation.
Now we're in a new century, with new challenges and new transportation needs. We still love our cars, but we also know they harm the environment around us. Americans want choices for getting to work, school, shopping and more. As lifestyles change, Americans — especially the Millennial generation — are changing their driving and transportation preferences.
We need a transportation system that reflects this century.
Public transportation ridership nationwide is hitting record highs. This trend is greatest among younger Americans — who will be the biggest users of the infrastructure we build today. Since the 1950s — despite knowing that buses and rail use far less energy and space — we have spent nine times more on highway projects than on public transportation.
In 2015, more than half of Americans — and nearly two-thirds of Millennials, the country's largest generation — want to live "in a place where they do not need to use a car very often." Similar trends exist for older adults. Older adults in general put the creation of pedestrian-friendly streets and local investment in public transportation in their top five priorities for their communities.
By reducing traffic and pollution, and increasing our options for getting around, efficient public transportation systems like intercity rail and clean bus systems would make America's transportation future better for everyone.
But America also needs to repair and maintain its current aging infrastructure. Nearly 59,000 of the nation's bridges are classified as "structurally deficient." Instead of building newer and wider highways that will only make America more dependent on dirty fossil fuels, we need to be smart in how we invest in roads, and fix them first.
The good news is that the public is in many ways ahead of Congress in leading the way toward reform. Help us make sure our decision makers recognize the need to invest in a 21st century transportation system.
Check out our video showcasing our work to bring about better transportation options for America's future.
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Blog Post | Transportation
Millennials Want More Public Transportation | Sean Doyle
A new poll shows that access to public transportation is "very important" for Millennials in considering where to live and where to work. The results support our research over the past few years that found Millennials are driving less than older generations and are more prone to walk, bike, or take transit to get where they need to go.
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Result | Transportation
New Motor Voter Act Signed Into Law
In 2015, CALPIRG supported the passage of the New Motor Voter Act, legislation championed by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. The new law will create an easy, automated way to complete your voter registration when you get a driver's license or state ID card at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The new law will get more people involved in the political process and free up county elections officials and civic engagement groups like ours to spend more resources on outreach, public education and engagement.
How Deadly are Your State's Roads? | Sean Doyle
A new report by Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute shows which states have the safest and most dangerous roads. Here's how the states rank and what we can do about it.
News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund | Transportation
New Report Finds Drivers Pay Less Than Half the Cost of Roads
As Congress struggles to renew the federal transportation law, a new report from CALPIRG Education Fund and the Frontier Group finds that drivers currently pay less than half the total cost of roads, and argues that while increasing gas taxes could fill the shortfall, it would leave other problems unaddressed.
Report | CALPIRG Education Fund | Transportation
Who Pays For Roads?
Many Americans believe that drivers pay the full cost of the roads they use through gas taxes and other user fees. That has never been true, and it is less true now than at any other point in modern times. Today, general taxes paid by all taxpayers cover nearly as much of the cost of building and maintaining highways as the gas tax and other fees paid by drivers.
News Release | CALPIRG | Transportation
Principles for Public Private Partnerships and California's High-Speed Rail Project
A first-of-its-kind report outlines principles for utilizing public-private partnerships to build high-speed rail in California. The research report released by CALPIRG examines the experience with public-private partnerships for high-speed rail in other countries and the U.S.
CALPIRG Statement in Response to LAO Report
Statement by Emily Rusch in response to LAO report.
Fresno Leaders Call for $2 Billion in High-Speed Rail Money to Come to the Central Valley
High-speed rail supporters call on the Department of Transportation to invest in California's high-speed rail line all the way up to Merced and all the way don to Bakersfield.
Media Hit | Transportation
The Bakersfield Californian: Fresno rally calls for more bullet train money
Supporters of California's high-speed rail project gathered in Fresno Wednesday to urge federal officials to give the state most of the $2.4 billion in bullet train money turned away in February by Florida.
Myth Busted: Road Costs Not Covered by Gas Taxes
A new report released today by the CLPIRG disproves the common misperception that road-building is paid for by user fees, showing that gas taxes cover barely half the costs of building and maintaining roads, a fraction which is likely to fall steadily.
News Release | CALPIRG Education Fund
"High Desert Freeway" makes national list of highway boondoggles
"To improve California's transportation system and hit our climate and clean air goals, we must reduce our reliance on cars and highways," said Emily Rusch, CALPIRG Education Fund executive director. "This project does the opposite, doubling down on a car-centric system that will encourage more people to hit the roads -- leading to more traffic, sprawl and pollution."
Before we spend $2 trillion, report recommends a 'Blueprint for Tomorrow'
For all of us who rely on our roads and public transit, and our water, sewage and power systems, the agreement reached by President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders in May to commit $2 trillion to infrastructure should be good news.
Some states are spending funds from VW 'Dieselgate' settlement on diesel
When it comes to clean transportation, most U.S. states are underutilizing funds from Volkswagen's nearly $3 billion settlement with federal authorities for violating emissions standards.
News Release | CALPIRG
CALPIRG Joins Assemblymember David Chiu, Others to Announce Bill to Transition California's Schools Buses to Zero-Emission Vehicles
Assembly Bill 1418 would put California school districts on a pathway towards utilizing zero-emission vehicles rather than polluting diesel school buses.
Our 'Driving into Debt' report highlights the impact of risky auto loans and car ownership
Talk about a captive market: For most of us, it's next to impossible to work, shop or go to school without a car. Auto lenders are taking full advantage.
Transportation | U.S. PIRG
Volkswagen settlement scorecard
Volkswagen was caught cheating emissions laws and settled with federal authorities. The settlement included nearly $3 billion for the Environmental Mitigation Trust. How well does our state rank on plans for investing VW mitigation trust funds in clean transportation projects?
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Paying for Electric Buses: Financing Tools for Cities and Agencies to Ditch Diesel
Highway Boondoggles 4
From Deceit to Transformation
A New Direction In Driving Trends
Our Changing Relationship with Driving and the Implications for America's Future
CALPIRG Education Fund
Summer 2018 News Briefs
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