Gas prices have reached nearly $4 in Florida, raising concerns for USF students who commute throughout the week. ORACLE PHOTO/HAYLEY REED
Gas prices across Florida have surged in recent weeks, adding financial pressure on USF students who rely on their cars to get to campus.
Rising prices are tied to higher crude oil costs driven by global tensions — especially the war in Iran, which has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway used to transport nearly one-fifth of global oil, according to the Associated Press.
Gas prices began rising in late February and early March as conflict in the Middle East escalated, according to AP.
Florida must import gasoline because it lacks refineries, which increases consumer costs, according to WLRN.
The average gas price in Florida as of Tuesday is roughly $3.92 per gallon — compared to less than $3 in February — with costs fluctuating slightly across the state, according to American Automobile Association data.
Some USF commuter students said this price spike is already noticeable at the pumps and in their pockets.
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Eric Chen, a senior computer science major, said he commutes from Wesley Chapel to USF twice a week.
Wesley Chapel is located about 15 miles from USF’s Tampa campus, which Chen said is a roughly 30-minute drive each way.
Chen said filling up his tank now costs nearly $15 more than it did a few weeks ago, when it only cost him $40.
“It’s sad,” Chen said. “It just kind of sucks seeing the price go up when you’re doing the same thing every week.”
While the price increase has not yet significantly affected his budget, Chen said he believes it could soon become a financial issue for him and other commuting students.
“It might not seem like a lot at first, but if you’re driving to campus more often, it definitely starts to add up,” he said.
He added that rising gas prices limit what students can spend on and how much they can allocate to other necessities within their budgets.
Chen said that while he only has to commute two days a week, he is upset about the costs and how they could affect him and other students financially over time.
“For most students, spending more money on gas is not a good thing,” Chen said. “It means they have less money for things they need, like books or other stuff.”
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Tyler Dunham, a senior computer science major, said he commutes to campus five times a week in a Hyundai Santa Fe.
Dunham said he drives from Spring Hill, about 40 miles from USF Tampa — a trip that typically takes him an hour each way.
However, Dunham said he recently started picking up a friend in Temple Terrace, which has added 15 minutes to his drive.
“He stopped commuting because gas prices were getting too expensive, so we decided to carpool,” Dunham said.
Still, he said he is worried that rising gas prices could affect his ability to drive his friend, as the extra cost of picking him up is quickly adding up.
Dunham said he fills up his tank twice a week and has seen a sharp increase in the price since last week.
“For a full tank, I’m paying around $60 to $65, compared to maybe $40 to $45 before,” he said. “It hurts.”
While Chen said he has not felt the impact on his budget, Dunham said this spike has directly impacted his finances.
“As a student, I already have a tight budget,” Dunham said. “Gas is something I can’t stop buying, so when the price goes up, it just kind of hits you.”
Dunham added that this cost has forced him to cut spending in other areas, including dining out or going out with friends.
“I have to be more careful with money, especially with food,” he said. “I can’t spend as much on other things because I know I have to pay for gas.”
He added that frequent driving and commuting for school worsens this impact for him — and many other USF students — who have stricter financial limits.
“When you add it up over a month, that’s a lot of money,” Dunham said. “That could be a loan payment or something important.”