[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Willing to Drive Less for a Better Minnesota

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Willing to Drive Less for a Better Minnesota
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1204000292.shtml


   The war is over. Our standard of living will drop again, this time
   largely to pay for another shiny new Light Rail system. Forgive me if
   I decide not to play along.
   The gasoline tax is going up by 2 cents a gallon immediately as I
   understand it, and by 3 cents more on September 1. We use a little
   under 100 gallons a month, so that's an additional $2 now, $5 in
   September. We would have to cut our consumption by 10% now, 25% in
   September to equalize the tax bite, which is a bit difficult. I have a
   better idea.
   I occasionally take the bus to work, like when my son needs the car or
   it's at the shop. A rush hour trip is $4 round trip, $3 otherwise.
   This is a bit more than the gasoline and other car expenses would
   total, but there are three upsides. One, I have to walk 24-48 minutes
   on such days depending on the exact time and route, which burns some
   calories, which is good. Two, it saves maybe a dime of state gas tax.
   The third positive is that Metro Transit is heavily subsidized, the
   fare box paying maybe one third. So that round trip costs the MTC
   another $3 per day. Granted, there are fixed and variable costs in
   that number, but clearly just three extra days a month should position
   me as reducing my net contribution to Light Rail.
   Actually, I like riding the bus, and after all, that's what the
   self-appointed transit experts like Senator Murphy want me to do,
   right? I'm only too happy to oblige, to drive less - and pay less net
   tax - for a better Minnesota.