Washington, DC

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Virginia Miller

202-496-4816

vmiller@apta.com

Fourth Annual National Dump the Pump Day to Be Held June 18



Take Public Transportation to Beat the High Cost of Gas and Help Save the Environment

On June 18, people across the country will "Dump the Pump" and ride public transportation on the fourth annual National Dump the Pump Day. This event is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and public transportation systems across the country will be participating nationwide, along with five state transit associations.

The 2009 National Dump the Pump Day is a public awareness day that emphasizes how taking public transportation can help individuals save money and help the environment.

"With gas prices increasing 33% since December, coupled with uncertain economic times, people have been looking for ways to save and riding public transportation is a great choice to make," said APTA President William Millar. "The National Dump the Pump Day on June 18 is an opportunity for people across the country to make a difference in their wallet, as well as in the environment."

Public transportation systems are participating in a variety of ways. Some public transit systems are offering free or reduced rides; holding contests with giveaways such as free transit passes; placing ads on gasoline station screens; providing content on YouTube, Facebook, and MySpace; and give aways.

Additionally, transit agencies are teaming up by geographic regions to further help commuters take advantage of the potential benefits riders receive by taking public transportation. In the Seattle Metro area 8 public transit systems are participating in a regional "Dump the Pump." (The eight transit systems are: Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, Ben Franklin Transit, King County Metro Transit, Sound Transit, and the Washington State Ferries.) In the southern Florida Miami area, four public transit agencies are partnering together to promote the 'Dump the Pump' day. (The four public transit systems are: Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, Palm Tran, and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority)

Last year 10.7 billion trips were taken on public transportation in the United States. This was a 52-year high, marking a modern ridership record. Public transportation use is up 38 percent since 1995--almost triple the growth rate of the population (14 percent).

The number of participating public transportation agencies is growing every day. Below is the current list of agencies participating in the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day.

Akron, OH – Metro Regional Transit Authority

Altoona, PA - Amtran

Ames, IA – CyRide

Ann Arbor, MI – Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

Atlanta, GA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Austin, TX – Capital Metro

Bremerton, WA – Kitsap Transit

Burbank, CA – Burbank Bus

Butler, PA – Butler Transit Authority

Cambria, PA –Camtran

Charleston, SC – Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority

Chicago, IL – Regional Transportation Authority

Chicago, IL – Chicago Transit Authority

Chicago, IL – Metra

Chicago, IL – Pace Suburban Bus

Clemson, SC - Clemson Area Transit

Columbus, OH - Central Ohio Transit Authority

Concord, CA – Central Contra Costa Transit Authority

Corpus Christi, TX – Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority

Denver, CO – Regional Transportation District

Detroit, MI – Detroit Department of Transportation

Dover, DE – Delaware Transit Corporation

DuBois, PA – Du Fast

Everett, WA – Community Transit

Flint, MI - Mass Transportation Authority

Fort Worth, TX – Forth Worth Transportation Authority

Fort Wright, KY – Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky

Franklin, TN – Franklin Transit Authority

Gainesville, GA – Hall Area Transit

Greensboro, NC - Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation

Johnsonburg, PA - Area Transportation Authority of North Central PA

Johnstown, PA – CamTran

Jonesboro, AR - Jonesboro Economical Transportation System

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Area Transportation Authority

Lafayette, IN – CityBus

Lakewood, WA – Pierce Transit

Lancaster, PA – Red Rose Transit Authority

Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Louisville, KY - Transit Authority of River City

Lynchburg, VA – Greater Lynchburg Transit Company

Madison, WI – Metro Transit

Memphis, TN – Memphis Area Transit Authority

Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Transit

Monterey, CA – Monterey Salinas Transit

Olympia, WA – Intercity Transit

Orlando, FL - Central Florida Regional Transport (LYNX)

Paducah, KY – Paducah Area Transit System

Peoria, IL - Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (CityLink)

Philadelphia, PA – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

Pittsburgh, PA -- Port Authority of Allegheny County

Pompano Beach, FL – South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Tri-Rail)

Pompano Beach, FL – Broward County Transit

Port Angeles, WA – Clallam Transit

Port Huron, MI – Blue Water Area Transportation Commission

Reading, PA – Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority

Research Triangle Park, NC – Triangle Transit

Richland, WA – Ben Franklin Transit

Rochester, PA – Beaver County Transit Authority

St. Louis, MO – Metro

San Antonio, TX – VIA Metropolitan Transit

San Bernardino, CA – Omnitrans

San Joaquin, CA – San Joaquin Regional Transit District

San Jose, CA -- Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Santa Ynez Valley, CA – Santa Ynez Valley Transit

Savannah, GA - Chatham Area Transit Authority

Seattle, WA – King County Metro Transit

Seattle, WA – Sound Transit

Springfield, MO -- City Utilities Transit

State College, PA - Centre Area Transportation Authority

Toledo, OH – Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Transit

Washington, DC – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Washington State – Washington State Ferries

West Covina, CA – Foothill Transit

West Palm Beach, FL – Palm Tran

Woodbridge, VA - Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission

The state public transportation associations sponsoring in the 2009 National Dump the Pump Day on June 18 include:

Kansas Public Transit Association

Ohio Public Transit Association

Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA)

South West Transit Association (SWTA)

The Virginia Transit Association

Washington State Transit Association (WSTA)

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APTA is a nonprofit international association of nearly 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. APTA members serve more than 90 percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.

Virginia Miller

Senior Manager-Media Relations

American Public Transportation Association

Washington, DC

202-496-4816