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Latest News

May is CommuteInfo Commute Options Awareness Month       

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) wants all regional commuters to be aware of the commuting options available in Southwestern Pennsylvania by proclaiming May to be CommuteInfo Commute Options Awareness Month.

May also includes National Transportation Week, National Bike to Work Day, National Employee Health and Fitness Day, National Try Transit Week, and National Clean Air Week.  As part of this month, commuters are encouraged to participate in one of the following activities:

1. CommuteInfo Partners Meeting – May 14th from 10:30 AM – Noon in the Davis Room on the 23rd floor of the Regional Enterprise Tower. 
2. Regional Commuter Questionnaire.  Available on-line throughout May for commuters to complete.  The goal is to help paint a better regional picture of commuters, their patterns, etc.  Click here to access the survey.  At the end of the month all the information will be compiled and a summary will be distributed in our next e-newsletter. 
3. BikePool Sign-ups – Working with Bike Pittsburgh, people interested in forming BikePools will be registered with the CommuteInfo program.  Click here to sign up for a bike pool list.

Washington County Transit Study

For Washington County commuters - - Want to know how a transit system could be designed to more efficiently meet the needs of the citizens and employers in Washington County?  The Washington County Transit Study aims to answer those questions.  Learn more by reading the study’s newsletter by clicking here.

How to have a voice in transportation planning!

Involving the public in the regional planning processes is a high priority for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. As one means of receiving valuable public input, SPC maintains Public Participation Panels (PPPs) for each county in its transportation planning region. Citizens do not need to travel outside their own county to address SPC about anything in regional transportation planning, because through the PPPs, SPC comes to them. PPP meetings are open to the public.  

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is seeking public comments on the Draft Public Participation Plan from May 4 to June 21, 2007. The Draft Public Participation Plan describes the various objectives, strategies and tools to engage the public and encourage participation in the development of transportation plans and programs. Public comments will be accepted as part of upcoming SPC public meetings:

Tuesday, May 22, 5:30 PM Greene County 2nd floor conference room Greene County Office Building 93 East High St. Waynesburg [ directions ]		Wednesday, May 23, 7:00 PM Lawrence County Jurors Holding Room, Second Floor Old County Courthouse County Government Center 430 Court Street New Castle, PA [ directions ]
Thursday, May 24, 7:00 PM Armstrong County County Commissioners Conference Room Courthouse Annex 450 Market Street Kittanning [ directions ]		Wednesday, May 30, 5:00 p.m. Fayette County Fayette Chamber of Commerce 65 West Main Street Uniontown, PA [ directions ]
Tuesday, June 5, 6:00 PM Westmoreland County Commissioners’ Meeting Room County Courthouse Annex 2 N. Main St. Greensburg [ directions ]		Wednesday, June 6, 7:00 p.m. Beaver County County Courthouse Commissioners' Conference Room 810 Third Street Beaver, PA [ directions ]
Tuesday, June 12, 7:00 p.m. Indiana County Indiana County Jr. High School (Large Group Instruction Room) 245 North Fifth Street Indiana, PA [ directions ]		Wednesday, June 13, 5:30 p.m. Allegheny County 31 st Floor Regional Enterprise Tower 425 Sixth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA [ directions ]
Tuesday, June 19, 6:00 p.m. Washington County Room 104, Courthouse Square 100 West Beau Street Washington, PA [ directions ]		Thursday, June 20, 7:00 p.m. Butler County Public Meeting Room County Government Center 124 West Diamond Street Butler, PA [ directions ]

You can review this draft document by download this PDF file and by downloading this appendix, also in PDF. These documents are available until June 21, 2007; you may also go to these locations and view hardcopies: Allegheny County Department of Economic Development , Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, Armstrong County Department of Planning & Development , Beaver County Planning Commission , Butler County Planning Commission , Fayette County Office of Planning and Community Development , Greene County Planning Commission, Indiana County Office of Planning & Development , Lawrence County Planning Department , Washington County Planning Commission , Westmoreland County Planning Department , many public libraries throughout the region, and the office of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission [ directions ].

Este documento está disponible en español. Llame por favor (412) 391-5590 para más información.

Dieses Dokument wird zum Deutschen auf Antrag übersetzt. Telephonieren Sie SPC an (412) 391-5590 zu mehr Information.

Questo documento è disponibile in italiano su richiesta. Telefoni lo SPC (412) 391-5590 per le più informazioni.

Ce document est disponible en français sur demande. Veuillez appeler le SPC (412) à 391-5590 pour plus d'information.

Written comments may be submitted through June 21, 2007 to:

SPC - Comments
425 Sixth Avenue, Ste. 2500 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852
Fax to Comments: 412-391-9160
E-mail: comments@spcregion.org

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission will consider the Draft Public Participation Plan for action at their meeting on June 28, 2007 at 4:30 p.m., Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Avenue, 31st Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1852 [ directions ].

Meeting locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. With advance notification, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) will make every effort to accommodate special needs related to language, sight, or hearing. Contact SPC at 412-391-5590, extension 334, to request such assistance.

TRANSIT INFORMATION

For information regarding transit services to the Public Meetings in Allegheny County call Port Authority Customer Service at 412-442-2000. For transit information in other counties, please visit: www.commuteinfo.org/comm_trans.shtml

Flexcar has Arrived in Pittsburgh! Cars by the hour - save money, time, and the environment

Through an alliance with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Flexcar’s fleet of low-emission, fuel efficient vehicles has come to the Golden Triangle and Oakland. For a low $35 annual membership fee you get:

• Convenient access to vehicles parked near your office or home, 24 hours a day – perfect for errands, for meetings, or just for fun.
• Easy reservation process. Book online or over the phone, right up to the last minute – no paperwork, no rental counters, no kidding!
• A diverse fleet to meet your changing needs – sedans, hybrids, and sporty cars.
• A range of low hourly rates based on the package you choose. Gasoline, insurance and maintenance are on us. It’s incredibly simple!

1. JOIN at flexcar.com.
2. RESERVE your car online or by phone.
3. ACCESS your car with your Flexcard, and drive away.
4. RETURN your car to its parking space when you’re done.
5. JOIN NOW at flexcar.com/pit or call 877-FLEXCAR.

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Vanpool Groups Looking for Riders

Several of our vanpool groups have seats available.  Why not try one day for free?  These are the groups with the highest number of seats available.

Origination: Irwin
Destination: Downtown Pittsburgh
Time Leaving for Work: 6:45 a.m.
Time Leaving for Home: 5:00 p.m.

Origination: Latrobe
Destination: Downtown Pittsburgh
Time Leaving for Work: 6:20 a.m.
Time Leaving for Home: 5:00 p.m.

Origination: Greensburg
Destination: Downtown Pittsburgh
Time Leaving for Work: 6:30 a.m.
Time Leaving for Home: 5:10 p.m.

Origination: Weirton
Destination: Downtown Pittsburgh
Time Leaving for Work: 6:40 a.m.
Time Leaving for Home: 4:05 p.m.

Origination: Belle Vernon
Destination: Oakland
Time Leaving for Work: 7:00 a.m.
Time Leaving for Home: 5:05 p.m.

To obtain a complete list of vanpool groups that match your particular commute, fill out a commuter profile today by clicking here or by calling 1-888-829-6110.  If vanpooling works for you, you can join on either a full-time or part-time basis.   Learn more about our vanpool program on our website. 

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Did You Know?

BCTA email update list!
The Beaver County Transit Authority can keep you advised of service changes, detours, special events, construction, and delays by sending an email to the address(es) of your choice as soon as pertinent information is available.  If you would like to participate, simply email KristenS@bcta.com and indicate which Route(s) you are interested in. 

Please be assured that your email address(es) will not be shared with any other outside party and you will receive no "junk mail" as a result of this service.

PennDOT District 11 New Construction Hotline Number
In an effort to keep motorists better informed of highway construction activities, PennDOT Engineering District 11 has created a construction hotline number for several key construction projects in the Pittsburgh region.

The number – 412-429-6035 - will feature current construction activities, restrictions and other information on the following projects:

• Parkway East Reconstruction
• Boulevard of the Allies Bridge Replacement
• Route 28 Reconstruction and Widening
• I-79 Neville Island to I-279 reconstruction
• I-279 McKnight Road Improvements

Click here to read the press release.

Port Authority’s Rider Report
Rider Report is a monthly electronic newsletter designed specifically for Port Authority riders and all those with an interest in Authority-related news, service and activities. Rider Report features a news column from Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland, as well as information about Port Authority’s corporate and community involvement, current events and ongoing projects. The e-newsletter also provides Port Authority customers with details about service changes, park and ride lots, detours, marketing promotions, special events and Port Authority trivia, among other information. Rider Report can be accessed from the home page of Port Authority’s Web site, www.PortAuthority.org. To receive Rider Report electronically, send an e-mail to RiderReport@portauthority.org.

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We are always looking for community events or speaking opportunities where CommuteInfo can be represented – please email us with your ideas!

With approximately 60% of the Southwestern Pennsylvania region's 1.5 million workers traveling outside of their resident municipality to work each day, commuting options are clearly an integral part of life for the region’s employers and workers.

CommuteInfo is a program of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), operated in partnership with transportation management associations, transportation providers, businesses and non-profit service organizations throughout Southwestern PA.

Through the strong network of partnerships, the CommuteInfo program offers a wide range of ride-sharing services to employers and commuters within the region, including a toll free phone number for information requests and referrals, vanpool/carpool rider matching, transit/biking/walking resources as well as park and ride lot information. CommuteInfo serves commuters and employers in 10 counties, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland.

You have received this message because you have signed up for the e-newsletter on the CommuteInfo website. If you have received this in error or no longer wish to receive messages from CommuteInfo, please reply to this message with your unsubscribe request.

Thanks again for your interest in commuting alternatives and CommuteInfo . . . a better way to work.