What might people do as gas prices go up?"
Driver attitudes to be examined
6/27/2006
Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2006
High gas prices don't seem to be scaring most members of a transportation planning board that has staked the city's future on highways and tollways.
But, members said Monday, they'll at least probe commuter attitudes to see if a big shift in driving habits could be lurking.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to change its next Regional Transportation Attitude Survey to include questions about what people might do as gas prices go up.
"When peoples' habits start changing, that's when we need to refocus," Chairman Richard Perez said. "Attitudes have changed, but I don't know if people's habits have changed."
The next survey is set for fiscal year 2007. But board member Tommy Adkisson, who wants to know how rising gas prices could affect local plans for more than 70 miles of toll roads, said he'll try to get the survey pushed up to 2006.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Terri Hall of San Antonio Toll Party, who's been pushing for a study on the matter.
Regular unleaded gas in Texas has hovered within 50 cents of $3 a gallon for several months, according to AAA, which when adjusted for inflation is close to the record average set in 1980. Today's average is $2.78.
Bond statements for the Texas 130 and 183A toll roads in Austin assume gas prices won't top the 1980 peak. And with typical bond paybacks of 40 years, toll critics in San Antonio say there's a lot of room for problems to develop.
On top of that, federal officials expect global production of conventional oil to peak in two to four decades, if not sooner, and one report says easing increasingly short supplies will take more than a decade.
pdriscoll@express-news.net
© 2006 San Antonio Express-News: www.mysanantonio.com
6/27/2006
Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio Express-News
Copyright 2006
High gas prices don't seem to be scaring most members of a transportation planning board that has staked the city's future on highways and tollways.
But, members said Monday, they'll at least probe commuter attitudes to see if a big shift in driving habits could be lurking.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to change its next Regional Transportation Attitude Survey to include questions about what people might do as gas prices go up.
"When peoples' habits start changing, that's when we need to refocus," Chairman Richard Perez said. "Attitudes have changed, but I don't know if people's habits have changed."
The next survey is set for fiscal year 2007. But board member Tommy Adkisson, who wants to know how rising gas prices could affect local plans for more than 70 miles of toll roads, said he'll try to get the survey pushed up to 2006.
"It's a step in the right direction," said Terri Hall of San Antonio Toll Party, who's been pushing for a study on the matter.
Regular unleaded gas in Texas has hovered within 50 cents of $3 a gallon for several months, according to AAA, which when adjusted for inflation is close to the record average set in 1980. Today's average is $2.78.
Bond statements for the Texas 130 and 183A toll roads in Austin assume gas prices won't top the 1980 peak. And with typical bond paybacks of 40 years, toll critics in San Antonio say there's a lot of room for problems to develop.
On top of that, federal officials expect global production of conventional oil to peak in two to four decades, if not sooner, and one report says easing increasingly short supplies will take more than a decade.
pdriscoll@express-news.net
© 2006 San Antonio Express-News:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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