FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Derrick Stokes
Date: June 11, 2008 Phone: 610-993-0911
TMACC REDUCING TRANSIT FARES TO 35 CENTS
TO ENCOURAGE DRIVERS TO “DUMP THE PUMP”
MALVERN, PA – The Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) will reduce the base fare of its three bus routes to 35 cents on June 19 to celebrate the third annual National Dump the Pump Day.
National Dump the Pump Day, which will be observed on Thursday, June 19, is dedicated to raising awareness that riding public transportation helps improve the environment and conserves fuel. It also offers the opportunity for people to beat the high price of gasoline and support public transportation as an important travel option that helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil as well as reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that are emitted into our environment.
To celebrate National Dump the Pump Day, the base fare on the Coatesville Link, the SCCOOT and Beeline buses will be reduced to 35 cents and any additional zone charges will be waved. The Coatesville Link serves communities west of Coatesville to Parkesburg. The SCCOOT serves communities from West Chester to Kennett Square to Oxford. The Beeline serves communities from Coatesville to Downingtown to Great Valley.
Reducing the fare to 35 cents is symbolic, explained Michael E. Herron, TMACC Executive Director. During the country’s last oil crisis in 1973, SEPTA’s base fare was about 35 cents. In still-rural Chester County, public transit options other than the Penn Central Railroad (now the R5 regional rail line), were very limited to non-existent.
“With the price a gas hovering around $4 a gallon, it is easy to make comparisons to 1973 when many motorists had to limit their number of fill-ups,” Herron said. “The economy today like the oil embargo in 1973 is forcing many commuters to consider public transit as a cost-effective alternative. We just hope the trend continues.”
# # #
