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SALT LAKE CITY — With gasoline prices dropping in recent months, most Americans are getting a break at the pumps — which means people might be rethinking public transit.
The national average for a gallon of gasoline is now $2.08; last year at this time it was $3.30. In Utah, the average is $1.99, but there are plenty of spots where prices drop to $1.75 per gallon and lower. Last year, prices were around $3.13 per gallon.
On the other hand, for people who drive on compressed natural gas the savings vaporized. And for FrontRunner, the same trip may cost more.
Utah driver Russ Hansen never imagined he would see prices under $2 again.
"I hope they don't go back up," Hansen said. "I thought they were going to go up to five (dollars a gallon) or so."
When prices were high, he looked into converting his vehicle to run on compressed natural gas. Now it doesn't seem practical to spend $5,000 on a conversion when the price at the pump is the same.
But, if the price of gasoline soars, Hansen's said he would probably "look into it again."
KSL News waited an hour at some CNG pumps — no customers. Those with dual-fuel vehicles may be buying gasoline instead. An owner of six CNG stations on the Wasatch Front said he estimates his business has dropped 15 to 20 percent over the last month.
But at the FrontRunner station two blocks away, riders were not rethinking their plans.
"I don't think gas prices have any effect on FrontRunner at all," said Steven Sheffield, a FrontRunner commuter. "I haven't noticed any difference on the train."
For the last few years, it's been a lot cheaper to ride FrontRunner than fill your car with gasoline and drive from Woods Cross to downtown Salt Lake. Today, it's $2.50 for a one-way trip — a little more than a gallon.
Still, that hasn't stopped commuters from climbing aboard the train.
FrontRunner commuter Holly Johnson and her husband have one car. They do not plan to buy another one or change their commuting plans even though gas prices are down.
And Johnson has plenty of company on the train.
"This just works a lot better for us, and sometimes I can catch an extra nap on the train," Johnson said. "(Ridership has) been pretty consistent across the board. If anything, I've noticed in recent months it's gotten a little heavier."
UTA's numbers show that, too. Total trips for November and December are up from 2013, while boardings are down less than a half-percent.
"I was riding the train when (gasoline) was $4 a gallon, and I'm riding the train when it's under two (dollars)," Johnson said. "So, it's not really changing anything, other than it makes it so that we can have more fun on the weekends. But for work, this is just what I do."
On many days, she said she's just glad just to avoid the traffic jams.
