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Looking For Feedback The CommuteInfo staff wants this e-newsletter to be an informative resource for you about commuting alternatives. Please help us by sending suggested story ideas for upcoming editions or other comments about how to improve this newsletter. Click here to send us your thoughts. CommuteInfo Grows in 2008 2,352 people requested information about commuting alternatives during 2008, an increase of 200% from 2007. This is also the highest number of registrations received in 5 years. The number of people reporting using carpooling and vanpooling as an alternative to driving alone has increased as well. Fifteen new vanpool groups also got started in 2008. Read more on the CommuteInfo “News & Publications” page: http://www.commuteinfo.org/comm_news.shtml. CommuteInfo Launches New Employer Regional Examples Page Want to know what other employers are doing to promote commuting alternatives? Check out the new resource on the CommuteInfo website, called Regional Examples: http://www.commuteinfo.org/emp_reg.shtml. If you would like to add information about your company’s efforts, please email Lisa Kay. 2009 CommuteInfo Webinar Schedule Announced The CommuteInfo program sponsors webinars on commuting alternatives, employer transportation programs and other related topics. All of the CommuteInfo webinar sessions are held from Noon – 1 PM on the date specified.
Please save the dates for upcoming 2009 webinars: Learn more about the webinars and register on-line at: http://www.commuteinfo.org/comm_webinar.shtml. SPC Conducting 511 Travel Information Survey (www.swpatravelsurvey.com) The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC) is seeking input from travelers across Southwestern Pennsylvania as to what types of traveler information they would like to receive and how they would like to receive it. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will deploy a 511 traveler information system statewide in 2009. 511 is a customer-driven, multi-modal travel information service accessed via telephones and other personal communication devices, enabling a safer, more reliable and efficient transportation system. Results from SPC’s survey will help PennDOT and other transportation providers in the region finalize plans for the 511 service. A 511 service is available presently in approximately 50% of the U.S. There are a number of ways to use the system to make your travel plans. For example, before you begin your morning or evening commute you call the system to check if your normal route is currently congested. Based on the information you receive, you can choose an alternate route or plan to leave later. Another example is when you are actually in a traffic jam on the interstate. You call the 511 system to find out why there is congestion on your route and the details (single lane closure or full roadway closure, etc.). You can then check alternate routes that you already know to find out if they are congested and change travel plans as appropriate. SPC appreciates your time in completing the survey. Go to the survey! For more information about 511, visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/511what.htm . Zipcar Is A Solution For Reducing Your Business’ Transportation Costs Without Limiting Mobility To help support this growth, Zipcar will be nearly doubling their local fleet by adding an additional 35 vehicles to their service footprint which will allow them to increase to their members’ options in high density areas like Downtown and also expand to new neighborhoods that currently do not have Zipcars. As demand for Zipcar services continues to evolve, Zipcar is poised to continue to provide your employees with the freedom to travel where they please without the burden of paying for, insuring, gassing and storing vehicles they only use for fractions of the day. [ top ]
Commuting Options: Information & Resources Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority opens new Park & Ride Facility
For more information about the Crookham Park and Ride facility or other MMVTA services visit http://www.mmvta.com or call 724-489-0880.
Major progress continues to be made on Port Authority’s Transit Development Plan, a component of the Authority’s Connect ’09 initiative. Each route evaluation describes the route alignment and function, where the route operates, the municipalities and attractions served by each route, similar routes, number of trips provided and ridership patterns. Also, each evaluation has a load profile indicating the number of riders on a vehicle at different locations along the route and where people are boarding and alighting. This information will provide the basis for the redesign of the Port Authority Transit system. To learn more or to check out the route evaluations on-line, visit: http://tdp.portauthority.org/paac. Vanpool Groups Looking for Riders Several vanpool groups have seats available. You can view the entire list of vanpool groups by clicking here. These are the groups with the highest number of seats available: Origin: Weirton, WV (Group V104) Origin: Franklin, Venango County (Group V506) Origin: McKeesport (Group V206) If your employees are interested in obtaining a complete list of vanpool groups that match their particular commute, encourage them to fill out a commuter profile today by clicking here or by calling 1-888-819-6110. Your employees can join a vanpool group on either a full-time or part-time basis. Learn more about the vanpool program on the CommuteInfo website. Carpool Groups Sign Up for Another Year Once a year carpool groups are asked to verify that the group is still operating and to update the contact information for all of the participants. Typically groups receive this annual request for information between January and May of the year. If your company has carpoolers who have not yet registered, it is not too late. Registering takes less than 5 minutes – each person in the group completes a commuter profile and in the “other comments” section, simply state that they are part of a carpool and tell us who else is in the carpool. Why should a carpool group register with CommuteInfo? There are many people throughout the region carpooling and only a small fraction are registered with the CommuteInfo program. Members of registered groups are eligible for the CommuteInfo Emergency Ride Home service, and for a limited time, new carpool groups will receive a free automobile safety kit. Carpool Groups Looking for Riders Several registered carpool groups have seats available…this is just a sample, for a complete listing of carpools looking for riders, please click here: Origin: Belle Vernon (Group COAK3) Origin: New Castle (Group CBOY1) Origin: Ambridge (Group CD048) If your employees are interested in obtaining a complete list of carpool groups that match their particular commute, encourage them to fill out a commuter profile today by clicking here or by calling 1-888-819-6110. Your employees can join a carpool group on either a full-time or part-time basis. Learn more about the carpool program on the CommuteInfo website. Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision - NEW Beginning on January 1, 2009 a new federal bicycle commuter tax benefit has taken effect. Learn more about this new benefit by clicking here: http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php. Bikepool Groups Looking for Riders Are your employees considering riding their bike to work? CommuteInfo can help them find a bikepool buddy. The process works the same way as finding someone to carpool with --- they just complete the commuter profile on-line or over the phone by calling 1-888-819-6110 and we will send them a matchlist with other people interested in biking to work. Several registered bikepool groups are looking for participants…for the most up to date listing of bikepools looking for participants, please click here: Origin: Highland Park/East Liberty (Group A) Origin: Squirrel Hill (Group B) Origin: Squirrel Hill (Group C) To learn more about walking, teleworking, flextime or compressed work weeks, visit the “Other Options” page on the CommuteInfo website: http://www.commuteinfo.org/comm_options_other.shtml [ top ]
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. Check out previous e-newsletter editions by clicking here. Thanks again for your interest in commuting alternatives and CommuteInfo . . . a better way to work. |
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Nearly every business is challenged to reduce costs. More and more local companies have begun to look to Zipcar as a way to lower transportation costs. ZipCar is a national carsharing service with a local office in downtown Pittsburgh. Zipcar’s Z4B (Zipcar For Business) Program has allowed companies to reduce or eliminate their corporate fleet and parking spaces without limiting their employee’s abilities to get to where their business takes them. With a Z4B Account, a member company’s entire staff can have access to Zipcar’s fleet of 38 vehicles in Pittsburgh at a discounted rate (only $8.25 per hour, $49 from 7 AM-7 PM, or $60 for any 24 hour period). These rates include all of your gas, insurance and storage costs and billing can be set up to charge employees individually or on one corporate account. Over the past few years, Zipcar has delivered significant savings on transportation expenses to local companies such as UPMC, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, as well as many others. If you have any questions or would like more information about Zipcar and their Z4B Programs to contact 
With a snip of ceremonial ribbon on December 18, Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority’s (MMVTA) Crookham Park and Ride Lot officially opened for commuters. The opening of the lot located on Route 88 at Ginger Hill Rd. in Union Township, Washington County, is a collaborative project between the MMVTA, the Federal Transit Administration and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The new park-n-ride lot is served by MMVTA’s Route A, which provides bus service between the Mid Mon Valley and downtown Pittsburgh. The Crookham Park & Ride Lot is easily accessible from Toll 43 via Route 136 toward Washington, PA. 
Port Authority of Allegheny County – Bus Route Analyses Available on Transportation Development Plan Web Site
