Port Authority of Allegheny County to Help Celebrate National Dump the Pump Day

Port Authority of Allegheny County will join other public transportation agencies across the country to participate in the eleventh annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 16. The slogan of this year’s National Dump the Pump Day is “Dump the Pump. Ride Public Transit.”

Port Authority will distribute “I Dumped the Pump for Transit” buttons from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, during Midweek Music in Market Square. Those who Tweet a photo of themselves wearing the button and include the hashtag #DumpThePumpPGH on Thursday, June 16, will be entered to win a transit pass good for one month of unlimited rides.

“I hope this small contest, if only for a day, gets people out of their cars and thinking differently about public transportation, and its vast economic and environmental benefits,” said Port Authority CEO Ellen McLean.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2016 National Dump the Pump Day is a day that encourages people to ride public transportation.  Started in June 2006 when gas prices were $3 per gallon, this national day emphasizes that public transportation is a convenient travel option that also helps people save money. According to APTA’s June Transit Savings Report, individuals in the Pittsburgh metro area in a two-person household can save an average $779 a month, or $9,348 each year, by downsizing to one car.

In addition to the economic benefits, public transportation use reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil by 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline a year and saves 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

Public transportation also has a proven track record of reducing congestion on our nation’s roads. The latest research shows that in 2011, public transportation use in the U.S. saved 856 million hours in travel time and $21 billion in congestion costs in 498 urban areas, including the Pittsburgh metro area.