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Title: Federal, state and local responses to 1979 fuel shortages

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6882472

There are many lessons that can be learned from examining federal, state and local responses to the 1979 fuel shortages which can be applied to present and future energy contingency planning efforts to enhance their effectiveness. Case studies were made of emergency transportation energy conservation actions implemented, or attempted, in Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Seattle, Rhode Island, and New York State. Information on responses to the fuel shortages for each case study area was obtained through on-site meetings with representatives of organizations having a strong interest in emergency transportation actions such as transit operators, metropolitan planning organizations, service station dealers, state highway and energy departments, ridesharing agencies, and others. Types of emergency transportation actions most commonly implemented or attempted by the case study areas were: (1) expanded public information and marketing distribution systems; (2) emergency expansion of ridesharing (carpool and vanpool services); (3) rehabilitation and placing in service of standby reserve or mothball fleet buses; (4) implementation of odd-even and/or minimum (maximum) fuel purchase restrictions; and (5) monitoring of transit ridership and shifting buses to the most heavily used routes. These case studies discuss, and partially assess, the major transportation energy contingency actions implemented, key implementation problems encountered, and actions planned but not implemented. Preliminary conclusions, recommendations, and implications for developing future transportation energy contingency plans are presented in a separate volume.

Research Organization:
Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co., Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
6882472
Report Number(s):
DOT-P-30-81-06; ON: TI84901219
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English