Transportation Energy Considerations

Maximum transportation energy conservation potentials and means for avoiding extreme adverse impacts have been identified. Financing, particularly from fuel taxes, is of particular concern as a low-cost means for encouraging maximum fuel conservation with minimum increase in total travel costs. Over half of all petroleum is used for transportation and 40% for highway transportation. A projected 70% improvement in miles per gallon, trip consolidation, shifts to walk and bicycle, and shifts to transit, in that order, could cut highway fuel use in half, absorb more than a doubling of fuel price with no cost increase to the operator, and accommodate forecast increases in travel by 1985. A review of petroleum use, travel forecast, travel characteristics, vehicle miles per gallon, conservation methods, roadway improvements, highway financing, and vehicle operating costs shows how this is possible.