"According to CAMPO figures, in 2001 the price of gas was 89¢ a gallon. Today, it is $3.57 a gallon. So, the question is whether we want to pursue a roads-only future or diversify our transportation system."austin's transportation future
daily cost to commute
Lakeline Mall to Downtown Austin is 18 miles. How you get there can have a big impact on your daily budget.
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daily cost to commuterail: $4 |
daily cost to commutecar: $18 - $38 |
For those who commute by car, the trip to downtown includes gas, parking and maintenance. If you get 18 miles per gallon, at $3.50 a gallon you'll spend $7 a day on gas alone. Add in the $200 a month for parking that many downtown workers pay ($10/day for 20 working days), and the extra maintenance you incur from all that driving, and the cost to drive by yourself hits $18 a day. And that doesn't even include the cost of tolls if you drive in on a toll road.
The American Automobile Association's analysis results in a similar number. AAA calculates the cost to drive at 55¢ per mile. Under AAA's analysis, the cost to drive by yourself is $19.80 a day. And that doesn't count parking.
That's not all. Many families own two cars, and each adult drives alone. If one adult rode commuter rail, a Northwest Austin family could own only one car and thereby save a lot of money. How much? If you own a $25,000 car with a 5-year note at 8 percent, a typical monthly car payment would be $506. That means it costs $16.87 a day just to own that second car. Add in insurance, registration, the cost of gas and parking for the second car, and the cost to a family of having that second car commute each day is $38.14.
When the commuter rail red line opens in 2008, however, Austinites will be able to ride on rail from the Lakeline station for $2. That means the round trip cost to commute by rail will be $4.
Rail is just one part of a comprehensive transportation strategy, and it won't work for everyone. But for those who do choose it, commuting by rail can have a big impact on the family budget. Add in the time to read the paper, relax, take a nap or spend more time with your child, and commuting by rail can actually give people time back in their lives. It will definitely put more money back in their wallet.