Pain at the gas pump

This past week, Utah officials broke ground for commuter rail service between Salt Lake City and Pleasant View in Weber County, slated for completion in 2008. Coincidentally, the ceremony came on the heels of Hurricane Katrina, which has somewhat disrupted domestic oil production and supplies and was followed by a spike in oil prices and record prices at the pump.

Under those market conditions, completion of the 44-mile line cannot come soon enough.

But commuter rail is more than two years away. With premium unleaded gasoline prices topping $3 a gallon in Utah for the first time ever, filling the gas tank takes a huge bite out of the household budget. It remains to be seen how Utahns will respond.

Will Utahns abandon their love affair with the car? Or will they be more judicious about how many car trips they take? Will they cut down on vacations? Will owners of gas-guzzling SUVs park them in favor of more fuel-efficient automobiles?

While Westerners are not the most prolific users of public transportation, a transit pass has growing appeal. A Utah Transit Authority adult pass is $47 a month. That's just a little bit more than a full tank of gasoline for an entire month's travel. UTA has eyes on expanding its system of buses and light rail over the next 25 years to include several TRAX extensions, increased bus service and bus rapid transit.

For those who can't give up the car, perhaps they will consider car-pooling to ease the pinch at the pump. UTA can help pair up people who live in close proximity. As an added bonus, people who share rides can use the less-traveled car-pool lanes. Go to www.utarideshare.com for more information.

If there's any solace to the most recent hike in gas prices, it's that the entire country is in the same boat. The West has been spared gasoline shortages and the $4 a gallon prices experienced elsewhere. The supply outlook has improved somewhat after the International Energy Agency agreed to release 2 million barrels a day of oil and refined products from reserves. But it will be at least two weeks before tankers of fuel can be delivered from Europe to the United States.

Experts predict that gasoline supplies will be tight for some time to come, which means the days of plentiful and relatively inexpensive gasoline are history. Hopefully, Utahns will keep their wits about them to endure this new era without resorting to hoarding fuel, which can contribute to shortages and yet more pain at the pump.