For Commuters: Latest News

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Search The CommuteInfo^®Program Website!

The CommuteInfo^® Program:
A Program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Regional Enterprise Tower
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2500 * Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852
1-888-819-6110

Send Comments To:
CommuteInfo@spcregion.org
or call 1-888-819-6110

Read Our Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.

Note: Babel Fish is a third-party resource and a computer translation of the original webpage. It is provided for general information only and should not be regarded as complete or accurate.

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Does Rising Cost of Gas Have You Looking for a Better Way to Work?
Online Tools Help Save Money & Time

PDF version of this release is here.

For further information contact:
Shannon O'Connell, Communications Coordinator
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
412-391-5590 x334
comments@spcregion.org

For Immediate Release 8/29/05

PITTSBURGH, PA – Are you spending all of your free time searching for the best price on gas? Southwestern PA residents looking for effective ways to keep more gas money in their pockets might be able to find some extra time as well.

The CommuteInfo Program reminds you that sharing the drive to work not only helps cut commute costs, but can mean a shorter ride to work by traveling in HOV lanes or in buses (on the bus lanes) during peak commuting hours – saving you time as well as money. Just go to www.CommuteInfo.org, complete a commuter profile and you will get a list of individuals who may be willing to carpool or vanpool to work. It’s fast, easy, and there is no cost to use these online tools.

Lisa Kay Schweyer of the CommuteInfo Program says she “…would like to encourage more commuters to try the online tools to help find transit information, as well as vanpool & carpool partners.” The number of requests to the program for information has been increasing. Many of the commuters contact the program initially because they are looking for ways to save money, but then find that the alternative commute is helping them save time as well.
CommuteInfo promotes regional commuter ridesharing initiatives by reaching out to area employers, transit providers, professional organizations, and current and potential ridesharers. The goal is for commuters living, working or attending school within the 10-county SPC region to choose ridesharing at least twice a week by providing them with viable options, incentives and encouragement.

With more than 700 new commuters enrolling just last year, CommuteInfo is well on the way to demonstrating how a strong and effective ridesharing program can benefit the region in many ways, such as:

• Reducing traffic congestion and road wear
• Promoting healthier lifestyles and less stressful commutes
• Contributing to workforce flexibility
• Lowering auto emissions
• Reducing demand on parking resources

CommuteInfo partners with other agencies to offer a wide range of services to employers and commuters within the region, including a toll free number for information and referrals, telecommuting resources, vanpool/carpool rider matching, transit/biking/walking resources, park and ride lot maps, and transportation resource fair lists. For more information about CommuteInfo and ridematching, please visit www.CommuteInfo.org or call toll free 1-888-819-6110.

About Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is the region's forum for collaboration, planning and public decision-making. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the ten-county region including the City of Pittsburgh and the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland, SPC is responsible for planning and prioritizing the use of all state and federal transportation funds allocated to the region. As the Local Development District (LDD) and Economic Development District for Southwestern Pennsylvania (as designated by the U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce), SPC establishes regional economic development priorities and provides a wide range of public services to the region.

PDF version of this release is here.

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Search The CommuteInfo^®Program Website!

The CommuteInfo^® Program:
A Program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Regional Enterprise Tower
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2500 * Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852
1-888-819-6110

Send Comments To:
CommuteInfo@spcregion.org
or call 1-888-819-6110

Read Our Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.

Note: Babel Fish is a third-party resource and a computer translation of the original webpage. It is provided for general information only and should not be regarded as complete or accurate.

[ top ]

Does Rising Cost of Gas Have You Looking for a Better Way to Work?
One Group of Co-Workers Sought Out an Alternative

PDF version of this release is here.

For further information contact:
Shannon O'Connell, Communications Coordinator
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
412-391-5590 x334
comments@spcregion.org

For Immediate Release 8/24/05

PITTSBURGH, PA – PITTSBURGH, PA – After spending more than $400 per month on gas alone, Chris Zema, who lives in Pittsburgh but works in Wheeling for the Global Operations Center of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, knew there had to be a better way to get to work. After learning about the options the CommuteInfo program offers, CommuteInfo staff was brought in to meet with the employees at the law firm’s Wheeling center. Some other commuters like Chris agreed that they would prefer to save some money and decided to band together to form a vanpool.

Starting on August 1st, this group of co-workers began sharing their ride to work, in a 15-passenger vanpool vehicle. In addition to saving gas money, each member of the vanpool will save over 120 miles from being put on their own personal cars each day. In addition, some will even be able to get their car insurance lowered because they are no longer commuting such a long distance in their own cars. Chris enthusiastically says “…this is so much better than driving alone - - I am so glad we got this vanpool group started.”

"One of the great success stories of Orrick's operation in Wheeling is that we have attracted great people from throughout the region, including Pittsburgh," said Michele Hesske, Human Resources Manager at Orrick. "We're thrilled to work with CommuteInfo to make it easier and more economical for our employees to get to and from work each day."
Lisa Kay Schweyer of the CommuteInfo Program says she “would like to see more commuters utilizing our online tools to help find transit information, as well as vanpool & carpool partners.” Go to www.CommuteInfo.org and complete a commuter profile. Just enter an origin, destination, and commute times and you will get a list of individuals who may be willing to carpool or vanpool to work. And it is free.

CommuteInfo promotes regional commuter ridesharing initiatives by reaching out to area employers, transit providers, professional organizations, and current and potential ridesharers. The goal is for commuters living, working or attending school within the 10-county SPC region to choose ridesharing at least twice a week by providing them with viable options, incentives and encouragement.

With more than 700 new commuters enrolling just last year, CommuteInfo is well on the way to demonstrating how a strong and effective ridesharing program can benefit the region in many ways, such as:

PDF version of this release is here.

--XXX--

Search The CommuteInfo^®Program Website!

The CommuteInfo^® Program:
A Program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Regional Enterprise Tower
425 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2500 * Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852
1-888-819-6110

Send Comments To:
CommuteInfo@spcregion.org
or call 1-888-819-6110

Read Our Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.

Note: Babel Fish is a third-party resource and a computer translation of the original webpage. It is provided for general information only and should not be regarded as complete or accurate.

[ top ]

Skip Driving Alone in Bad Weather
Find a Better Way to Work with CommuteInfo

For further information contact:
Shannon O'Connell, Communications Coordinator
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
412-391-5590 x334
soconnell@spcregion.org

For Immediate Release 1/21/05

Pittsburgh—Don’t start your workday by driving alone in bad weather: find a better way to work with CommuteInfo. After dealing with one of the worst winters in recent memory last year, and currently facing another snow storm, many commuters are looking for another choice than driving alone.

CommuteInfo promotes regional commuter ridesharing initiatives by reaching out to area employers, transit providers, professional organizations, and current and potential ridesharers. The goal of the program is to provide viable options, incentives and encouragement for employers to promote ridesharing and to help commuters choose ridesharing at least twice a week.

With more than 700 new commuters enrolling just last year, CommuteInfo is well on the way to demonstrating how a strong and effective ridesharing program can benefit the region in many ways, such as:

Reducing traffic congestion and road wear
Promoting healthier lifestyles and less stressful commutes
Contributing to workforce flexibility
Lowering auto emissions
Reducing demand on parking resources

SPC is no newcomer to ridesharing, having been an early proponent of alternative commuter options since the “energy crunch” days of the 1970s. At that time, SPC was instrumental in initiating a third-party vanpool program and started a call-in service for ridesharing information and assistance. SPC engages in regional outreach efforts to encourage employers to participate in the program and promote ridesharing among their employees.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is the region's forum for collaboration, planning and public decision-making. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the ten-county region including the City of Pittsburgh and the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland, SPC is responsible for planning and prioritizing the use of all state and federal transportation funds allocated to the region. As the Local Development District (LDD) and Economic Development District for Southwestern Pennsylvania (as designated by the U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce), SPC establishes regional economic development priorities and provides a wide range of public services to the region.

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CommuteInfo and the Norwin Library
Team Up For Innovative Program

For further information contact:
Shannon O'Connell, Communications Coordinator
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
412-391-5590 x334
soconnell@spcregion.org

For Immediate Release 2/15/05

Pittsburgh—Wish you had some extra time to finally finish or maybe start the latest best seller? The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s CommuteInfo program and the Norwin Library would like to help local residents do just that….by helping them find an alterative to driving alone to work, which will give them the time to check out the resources and books from the Norwin Library.

The cooperative program will be held from 10 – Noon on Saturday, March 19th at the Norwin Library. CommuteInfo staff will be available to provide you with important information regarding your commuting options. A vanpool vehicle will be on-site for residents to “tour”. Library staff will be available to discuss library services, to create library cards for interested residents and to demonstrate the new Learning Express Library. Representatives from Westmoreland Transit will also be present to answer specific questions about local as well as commuter bus service.

CommuteInfo promotes regional commuter ridesharing initiatives by reaching out to area employers, transit providers, professional organizations, and current and potential ridesharers. The goal of the program is to provide viable options, incentives and encouragement for employers to promote ridesharing and to help commuters choose ridesharing at least twice a week.

[ top ]

Does Rising Cost of Gas Have You Looking for a Better Way to Work?
Online Tools Help Save Money & Time

For further information contact:
Shannon O'Connell, Communications Coordinator
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission
412-391-5590 x334
comments@spcregion.org

For Immediate Release 3/09/05

Pittsburgh—Don’t spend all of your free time searching for the best price on gas. Southwestern PA residents looking for effective ways to keep more gas money in their pockets might be able to find some extra time as well. CommuteInfo reminds you that sharing the drive to work not only helps cut commute costs, but can mean a smoother ride to work by traveling in HOV lanes or in buses (on the bus lanes) during peak commuting hours – saving you time.

CommuteInfo would like to see more commuters utilizing its online tools to help find transit information, as well as vanpool & carpool partners. Go to www.CommuteInfo.org and complete a commuter profile. Just enter an origin, destination, and commute times and you will get a list of individuals who may be willing to carpool or vanpool to work.

CommuteInfo promotes regional commuter ridesharing initiatives by reaching out to area employers, transit providers, professional organizations, and current and potential ridesharers. The goal of the program is to provide viable options, incentives and encouragement for employers to promote ridesharing and to help commuters choose ridesharing at least twice a week.

With more than 700 new commuters enrolling just last year, CommuteInfo is well on the way to demonstrating how a strong and effective ridesharing program can benefit the region in many ways, such as:

Reducing traffic congestion and road wear
Promoting healthier lifestyles and less stressful commutes
Contributing to workforce flexibility
Lowering auto emissions
Reducing demand on parking resources

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