Columbia transportation providers and residents looking for ways to save on gas
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.)
On Friday, transportation providers and residents continue to find ways to cut costs while continuing to serve the community.
Gas and diesel prices continue to rise across the country, with every state averaging a minimum of $4 a gallon as of mid-May.
Now those prices are nearing $5 per gallon or have exceeded that mark in some states.
"The gas prices are just getting ridiculous," said Kevin Spurling a traveler.
"Trying to keep up with this is ridiculous," said Jay Baxter.
It's no secret that drivers are spending a lot more at the pump than they used to. In Missouri, AAA is reporting around $4.58 a gallon.
"It makes me feel like everything's a wreck right now," said Baxter.
Bigger vehicles like buses are feeling the impact too. These days it's costing some transportation companies nearly double the price to fill up.
Gary Anspach, who works for OATS Transit, says at just 6 months prices have spiraled.
"We could see fill-ups at the beginning of the year in the 75 dollar range to now it can easily be $125 or even more depending on the miles of that day," said Anspach.
However, Anspach says his company is finding ways to cut back on its costly trips to the gas station.
"If folks have appointments in the same area or same locations were trying to load more individuals on those buses so that we have less just one on one," said Anspach.
High gas prices also have some people changing their vacation plans
"We won't be taking any trips this year for like a vacation or anything like that," said Baxter.
"I just been staying local yeah. It just costs so much to go on a trip in a truck," said another traveler John Jones.
Just to put into perspective currently the cost of gas is almost two dollars more per gallon compared to last year during this same time, according to AAA.
