High gas prices no threat to CABS

A year ago gas prices were hovering just below $2 a gallon. Although those prices seemed high at the time, they are relatively low compared to the nearly $3 per gallon seen today. At the current price levels an 18-gallon tank can cost nearly $54 dollars to fill.
Now multiply that nearly $3 a gallon by 3,000. That is about how much it costs to run the Campus Area Bus Service buses weekly. 

As expensive as it sounds, Ohio State is confident it will be able to maintain its regular service routes even with gas prices on the rise. 

"We've anticipated fuel rise and have made allotments for it in our budget," said Sarah Blouch, director of Transportation and Parking. 

CABS, as well as other university vehicles, gets fuel from the on-site gas station on West Campus. This fuel station is available because of a contract between Transportation and Parking and State of Ohio resources. 

This contract not only ensures that OSU can run its CABS service at full-time without worry, but also regulates the rates at which the university purchases its fuel. Currently, OSU sells regular and diesel at $2.30 per gallon, and B-20, a bio-diesel fuel used for the buses, at $2.20 per gallon. 

"Most of what you pay for in gas is taxes, we don't have to pay that," Blouch said. 

Nearly 20 percent of the price of a gallon of gas is tax, which is used for highway repairs and construction.









According to the Federal Department of Energy Web site, one barrel of crude oil contains 42 gallons, but when refined it produces only 19.9 gallons of finished motor gasoline, as well as other petroleum products. 

Some students are relieved to know that CABS will still be in full effect, even as the price of gasoline continue to rise. 

"With the Core Circulator gone, I think it would have been a terrible inconvenience to the students to not have full service of the Campus Loops. For people who have classes on 9th and then classes on Woodruff immediately following, it's the only way they can get there on time," said Mary Stallings, a senior in political science. 

"Hopefully we're saving the students, staff and faculty a lot of gas by having them ride the campus bus," Blouch said.

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