Today’s fuel price musings - Threat of refinery strike ups gas prices

Add comment January 30th, 2009

I was sitting here writing about how Rockford area gas prices have dropped seven cents in the past week and a half, while the national average stayed where it was. That was such nice, happy news.

Aaaaand, then prices spiked today. They’re $1.99 a gallon around Rockford, up at least 10 cents. They’re also up to $1.99 in Springfield and over $2 in the Chicago suburbs, according to Illinoisgasprices.com.Why? Because of fears that a refinery strike this weekend could idle half the nation’s capacity. While there’s hope it’ll get settled before the Sunday deadline, the markets always get spooked when such things are unsettled at the Friday close. If it gets settled, look for prices to fall back down. If it doesn’t … hooo boy.

Here are the prices from this morning, before things got ugly (courtesy of AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com):

Gasoline: Rockford dropped slightly to $1.86 a gallon. We’re tied at fifth in the state and were tied at 115th of the nation’s 280 metro areas, quite a good place to be given our above-average taxes. The Illinois average dropped slightly to $1.91. The national average rose slightly to $1.85. Illinois has the 12th-highest gas prices in the nation, including the District of Columbia. Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Washington average more than $2 a gallon.

Diesel: Rockford dropped three cents to $2.35 a gallon. We have the fifth-highest diesel prices in the state. The state average dropped slightly to $2.50. The national average dropped a cent to $2.39. Illinois is tied with the 14th-highest diesel prices in the country, including the District of Columbia. Only Alaska, D.C. and Hawaii remain above $3 a gallon.

Obama staff talking to Gary airport, but what about landing at Rockford?

5 comments January 30th, 2009

President Obama’s support staff and Secret Service personnel have talked to Gary/Chicago International Airport officials about the possibility of landing Air Force One there on visits to Chicago. The problem is, the two main airplanes that are used as Air Force One are Boeing 747s, which can’t land on GYY’s short runway. Yes, the president has smaller planes he could use, but doesn’t he want to return home in style?

That’s the case Chicago Rockford International Airport Executive Director Bob O’Brien is making.  He says that Obama should avoid O’Hare because of the existing congestion, but should consider RFD … which has a long enough runway and top-notch landing guidance systems. O’Brien says Obama can land at RFD and helicopter into Chicago faster than it would take to land and get out of O’Hare. You can see Bob’s response in the above article.

So far, he’s not gotten any interest from the Obama folks, but he’s made the pitch to other officials. No clue if it’s made its way up the chain. Maybe the president reads The Passenger Seat?

Illinois Tollway didn’t take my suggestion for new plaza signs

Add comment January 30th, 2009

“Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor” has been covered up with “South Beloit Plaza1″ (or whatever the name of the particular plaza is).

I woulda went for “The Illinois Tollway - It’s Bleeping Golden”

Rockford bus fare hike - where we’d rank

2 comments January 30th, 2009

After 13 years at $1 a ride, Rockford Mass Transit District is considering a fare hike and a new 25-cent transfer fee. Given the rising price of fuel, increased inflation and service additions since 1996, plus tightening of state support it was only a matter of time. Here’s how we’d rank in Illinois if the increase is passed as proposed (ranked on base adult fare, though I note when there’s a longer, more expensive route - no express routes though) :

1. Chicago - $2.25 cash; $2 with CTA cards and 25 cents for transfers (fare went up 25 cents in January)
2. St. Clair County (St. Louis area) - $2, 75 cents for transfers (fare went up 25 cents in January, will go up another 25 cents next year)
3. PACE (Chicago suburbs) - $1.75, 25 cents for transfers (fare went up 25 cents in January)
4. Rockford - $1.50, 25 cents for transfers. $1.75 for longer CherryVale Mall route (if 50-cent fare increase approved for April)
5. Bourbonnais - $1, with a longer $3 route.
6. Danville - $1, with longer $2 and $3 routes.
7. Quad Cities - $1 (fare went up 20 cents in January), with a longer $1.50 route.
8. Peoria - $1
9. Bloomington-Normal - $1 (increased in September by 25 cents)
10. Champaign-Urbana - $1
11. Springfield - $1
12. Madison County (St. Louis area) - 75 cents to $1.75, depending on length of route (increased 25 cents a couple of years ago)
13. Decatur - 75 cents
14. Galesburg - 60 cents
15. Quincy - 50 cents
16. Macomb - Free (Western Illinois University routes have been free, city routes went free from 50 cents this fall. WIU pays much of the local cost)

A few takeaways:

• We’re right now in the middle of the pack at $1, but we’re one of the biggest systems in the state … and bigger bus systems usually  cost more.
• I wonder if any of the others - like Peoria - will look at fare hikes soon as well.
• There’s precedent for a “zone fare” system like what RMTD is proposing in Cherry Valley. Some other public transit systems have significantly higher fares for some significantly long routes (including links to other mass transit options 30 or so miles away.) Interesting model.
• Ridership would have to drop more than 33 percent for RMTD to lose money on this proposition (that doesn’t take into account the new transfer and Cherry Valley fees, though). While some will go back to their cars to avoid a 50 percent fare increase, I doubt nearly that many would.

Thoughts?

Confirmation on the Tollway signs

Add comment January 30th, 2009

From the Tribune - they’re removing the signs and not putting Quinn’s name up in their place.

They’re going to do it at night, Baltimore Colts Meigs Field style, to minimize traffic disruptions. (UPDATE: OK, they’re doing at least some in the daytime)