Gas prices finally fell below $3 per gallon in the Madison area Tuesday, with the price of regular, unleaded gasoline at the campus-area BP on Park Street and Vilas Avenue at $2.99 per gallon.
According to madisongasprices.com, at least seven other stations in Madison reported prices of $2.99 or less Tuesday morning. However, there are stations with prices listed over $3 per gallon, including two in the city with prices of $3.49 per gallon.
Madison's current average price for a gallon of gasoline is still higher than the rest of the state of Wisconsin. According to AAA spokesperson Larry Kamholz, Madison's current average is $3.16 a gallon, while the Milwaukee area is $2.99 a gallon, and Green Bay's average is $3.05 a gallon. Kamholz said Madison's average price is higher than the rest of the state because of several factors.
The Milwaukee/Waukesha area gets completely different gas than we get because of the EPA regulations that are in effect in that area due to all of the smog and pollution,"" Kamholz said.
The higher gas prices in Madison can also be attributed to the source of the gasoline pipeline.
""Another key part of this is that Madison gets gasoline from the Chicago pipeline, which is more expensive because of the high demand in that area,"" Kamholz said.
""While Madison gets their gas from the Chicago pipeline, the rest of the state typically gets their gas from the Minnesota borders which tends to be less expensive.""
UW-Madison sophomore Samantha Gold said she is going to take advantage of the lower gas prices immediately.
""I feel a lot better about the lower gas prices and feel less guilty about making my parents pay for gasoline,"" Gold said. ""Now, I feel better about lending my car to my friends and think that I may get a job because it won't cost me as much money to drive myself there.""
