The average gas price for Central Texas jumped to $3.84 from $3.57 just a week ago.<\/p>\n
AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Rising gas prices continue to dig into the pockets of Texas drivers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“They’re going up like crazy. We were just gonna put gas up the street. It was like $3.88. I said, no, let’s go to 7-Eleven up the street,” Joseph Villarreal said. “It’s probably a little cheaper, and we come over here and it’s actually $3.99.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Villarreal, like many hardworking Texans rely on a vehicle to get around. But, the rising gas prices are burning through more of his hard-earned money these past few weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s definitely taking a little bit of a toll. But, we’re figuring it out,” Villarreal said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Helping workers figure out commutes is the mission of Movability, a non-profit that helps commuters around the Austin area. Interim director Kate Harrington works with employers to incentivize things like taking transit or carpooling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work with employers of all sizes around the region, not just in Austin, but throughout Central Texas,” Harrington said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The non-profit also works in advocacy for more public transportation options in towns and cities that do not have the infrastructure already in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s a wake up call more to rethink how we’re getting around and how we’re designing our land use,” Harrington said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is because many commuters come from outside of Austin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say that affordability is often tied really closely with transportation, and as we’re seeing, people are moving farther and farther outside of cities, you know, metro areas because of affordable housing. But with that comes rising costs of transportation,” Harrington said.\u00a0<\/p>\n