Transportation Contingency Plans for Future Gas Shortages Will Not Meet Commuter Needs

Gao ID: CED-81-79 July 1, 1981

GAO reviewed transportation contingency planning and discussed the need for new efforts to ensure that all areas of the country will be adequately prepared to maintain mobility during gasoline shortages.

The transportation disruptions caused by the gasoline shortages experienced in the 1970's illustrate the need to develop transportation contingency plans. GAO found that few areas have completed such plans, and progress in contingency plan development has slowed down. Regional contingency plans can help people identify and adopt alternative travel modes. Contingency strategies can include actions to: (1) inform people about the use of alternatives to driving alone in a private automobile; (2) increase the capacity of mass transit systems; (3) increase ridesharing by promotional activities; and (4) encourage the adoption of alternative work hour programs that reduce or spread the peak hour demand for mass transit services and that facilitate ridesharing. Factors which contributed to delays in regional contingency plan development include: (1) lack of Department of Transportation (DOT) guidance; (2) lack of information about possible federal and state actions; and (3) confusion about the relationship of these contingency plans with State emergency energy conservation plans developed by transit systems. Contingency plans in some areas will have limited impact because of the limited capacity of transit systems to effectively implement necessary actions. A regional approach to contingency planning could develop the cooperation needed for implementation although unresolved obstacles will hamper the implementation of some planned actions.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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