Commuter costs get painful

[question everything]

Los Angeles Daily News

Commuter costs get painful

Angelenos spend average of $9,162 on transportation

By Lisa Mascaro
Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - Los Angeles County households spend an average of $9,162 a year on transportation - nearly one-fifth of all their expenditures - but costs could be reduced with more mass transit, a study released Tuesday says.

Transportation costs nationwide now gobble up more money than health care and food expenses combined, a sharp turn from a generation ago when just 10 percent of a family's budget was spent on commuting. Making matters worse has been the recent run-up in gas prices which cost Los Angeles households an additional $316 last year - nearly $1 billion total.

"Where does that billion go? Most of that goes out of the region," said Carrie Makarewicz, a senior research analyst at Center for Neighborhood Technology, which co-authored the report with the Surface Transportation Policy Project... The groups hope the report influences Congress, which is debating a $300 billion, five-year federal highway bill.

They also are pressing local officials to foster more "smart growth" developments - building high-density housing next to rail stations - to provide alternatives to long commutes from sprawling suburbs.

More..

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2921228,00.html#

Lisa Mascaro, [phone] [e-mail]

[malmapus]

1. Yeah after living in So. Cal for two years

I miss San Francisco more and more, when I would spend only $30+ a month on transportation. MUNI rules!!!!

[getmeouttahere]

2. I hear ya....

Villaraigosa actually has big plans for expanding our mass transit system here in L.A....I hope the people will be smart enough to help him make them a reality...sooner or later, people are going to have to start getting out of there cars more...all you have to do is look at the 405 in West L.A. at any time during the day or night to realize that...it's a completely unsustainable infrastructure...