Metro rideshare workshop Aug. 16 Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference Aug

Transcription

1 Metro rideshare workshop Aug. 16 Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference Aug New, cheaper day passes...expanded service on some lines...a transit video contest. Summer's here so here's the hottest news in bus and rail. Full story» OCTA Rideshare Week ETC Meeting Aug. 31 More Events» Why pay for what you can get free? Here, we list the best in rideshare bargains...from bus passes on your birthday to free dinners to a ride to the ballgame. Making a Rideshare Bucket List can help you get more out of your commute program plus have fun doing it! Full story» Full story» CommuteSmart News to go bimonthly $15 a gallon for gas? I-405: Countdown to the closure July Parking Cash-out among proposed Rule 2202 amendments What July 1 means to thousands of motorists July marks the end of a famous phone number, too A heads up for Rideshare Week Get news geared to commuters that you can forward to employees or incorporate into your own rideshare newsletter. Full Story»

2 Ventura County Fair free shuttle buses will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug to and from the County County Government Center (Lots E and F), Ventura High School Larrabee lots, Corner of Schooner and Harbor Blvd. in Ventura Harbor, Pacific View Mall, VUSD parking lot and Oxnard Performing Arts Center. For more information, go to venturacountyfair.org - and look for the Ventura County booth at the fair! Metro Silver Line now runs more often between Artesia Transit Center and Downtown LA. For this portion of the line, service will run every 10 minutes during rush hour, every 15 minutes mid-day, and every 40 minutes on Saturday, metro.net/silverline. In addition, Gold Line will add more trains during rush hour to improve service. Introducing OCLINK Pass Now you can enjoy all-day bus/rail access on Metrolink and local OCTA bus service throughout Orange County for only $7. Plus, as of this month, more trains are being added to the weekday and weekend schedules, so you can go more places throughout your day, octa.net. Metrolink service during I-405 shutdown To help travelers cope with the planned July shutdown on portions of the I-405, Metrolink is adding extra service to several of its train lines, metrolinktrains.com. Riverside Transit Agency will operate its "Beach Bus" through Sept. 4. Route 202 runs between Temecula and Oceanside for $3 each way, free with valid Metrolink pass, riversidetransit.com. Metro s $5 Day Pass rate goes into effect Aug. 1 (down from the current $6). As an extra convenience, Day Passes loaded onto TAP smart cards will be available for purchase on board Metro buses (The TAP card/day Pass combination will be sold for $6, a savings over the usual $2 TAP card fee. Those who already have TAP cards will pay only the $5 rate), metro.net. Summer means baseball, and sports fans can get to the game with less hassle and cost by using public transit. The Metrolink Angels Express is $7 round-trip, octa.net Dodger Stadium Express bus service is free from Union station to Dodger home games, metro.net Metrolink offers return service from Union Station at 11 p.m. after Dodger weeknight games on the Antelope Valley, San Bernardino and Ventura County lines, metrolinktrains.com Want to tell your employees more about the future of transportation in Ventura County? Find out more about scheduling a presentation with a Ventura County Transportation Authority representative by calling Donna Cole at Dump the Pump Day, which was June 16, got plenty of people singing the praises of bus/rail. Several local transit agencies held video contests check out some of the winning videos for Omnitrans' contest at omnitrans.org Speaking of transit flicks... Metro is holding a "Transit Flicks" video contest, inviting riders to post a short video on why they ride transit. Deadline is Sept. 2, metro.net/around/transit-flicks-videocontest.

3 Why pay for what you can get free? Here, we list the best in rideshare bargains...from bus passes on your birthday to free dinners to a ride to the ballgame. Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) conference Aug in Chicago for the first time is allowing ACT organizational members to register any staff at the member rate, actweb.org. 91 Express Lanes 3+ carpools ride free or at a 50% discount (Monday - Friday, eastbound 4 to 6 p.m.). You ll need a special access pass, which you can get at 91expresslanes.com/signup.asp. Carpool lanes Just a friendly reminder that it s free to ride in most carpool lanes when following passenger requirements and even when the lanes on the I-10 and I-110 freeways convert to HOT lanes in $2-a-day incentive New riders who live in the Inland Empire and try carpooling, riding the bus or Metrolink, bicycling, walking, or telecommuting may be eligible to receive $2/day in gift certificates for each day they rideshare for the first three months, ie511.org/commuter-incentives.aspx or call RIDESHARE ( ). $25 restaurant gift certificate When Los Angeles County employers sign up for the Metro Rewards program, your employees that rideshare may be able to earn $25 gift certificates at their favorite restaurants, metro.net/about/commute-services/metro-rewards/. $400 every month toward vanpool lease costs In Los Angeles County, metro.net/about/commute-services/; in Orange County, octa.net/commuters/vanpool/overview.aspx. Insurance discounts Many California insurance companies, including State Farm, Travelers and Farmers Insurance offer discounted rates for drivers that log less than 7,500 miles a year check with your provider to see if lowering your mileage through ridesharing can also lower what you pay in car insurance. Metro Destination Discounts show your Metro pass to get special rates at events and destinations, such as Truckit Fest, roller derby, museums, restaurants and more, metro.net/around/destination-discounts. Orange County Destination Discounts Show your OCTA bus pass, 91 express lane transponder or Metrolink pass for discounts at Knott s Berry Farm, Aquarium of the Pacific and many more destinations, octa.net/busdestinations-discounts.aspx. Orange County Fair Take the OCTA Fair Express to the Orange County fair and get $2 fare admission. Free ride home in case of emergency Sign up for Guaranteed Ride Home programs and your employees who rideshare will get free taxi rides if they need to get home due to emergency or if they get stuck at work due to unexpected overtime. For details, Los Angeles/Orange/Riverside/San Bernardino counties, commutesmart.info/ grhemployee-lac-oc-rc-sbc.asp, Ventura, goventura.org/?q=rideshare/guaranteed-ride-home-program.

4 CommuteSmart News to go bimonthly Due to budget cuts, as of this issue, CommuteSmart News rideshare newsletter for employers will now be issued every other month (as opposed to monthly). The employee version, however, will continue on a monthly basis. This will ensure that employers who use CommuteSmart News as a strategy to meet Rule 2202 mandates can continue to do so. $15 a gallon for gas? Although motorists are already grumbling over gas prices topping $4 a gallon, some experts say that's actually a bargain. The true price of gas is much higher if you factor in the costs of pollution and other problems gas use causes, according to the Center for Investigative Reporting. With every gallon of gas creating 25 pounds of greenhouse pollution - plus the health costs and fallout from oil spills - they estimate gas costs us more like $15 a gallon. Check out the video at Parking Cash-out among proposed Rule 2202 amendments The Air Quality Management District is proposing a number of amendments to Rule 2202 to be considered at a public hearing Sept. 9. Among them: adding a parking cash-out requirement for employers that do not attain average vehicle ridership (AVR) or fail to make continued improvement. For more information, visit the AQMD at aqmd.gov/rules/proposed.html#2202. What July 1 means to thousands of motorists As of July 1, the owners of about 85,000 hybrid vehicle will no longer be able to drive solo in carpool lanes. The yellow stickers that allowed them access officially expire, after a six-year run. The only Californians allowed to drive alone in carool lanes are the roughly 10,000 with white stickers for all-electric or natural gas vehicles. July marks the end of a famous phone number, too The COMMUTE commuter helpline is defunct as of the end of June. It is replaced by 511, which offers 24/7 automated assistance for travel times, road conditions, transit routing, carpool matching and more. A heads up for Rideshare Week Rideshare Week starts Oct. 3, and your Southern California agencies are already hard at work making this year's event an exciting one so don't miss out on important upcoming events! In August, Los Angeles and Orange County employers can attend Rideshare Week kickoff workshops, and the Inland Empire kickoff will be in September. Also in September, Ventura County Transportation Commission will mail out promotional materials to Ventura County employers. Be sure to save the date, and call your rideshare representative if you have any questions about the campaign.

5 You ve probably heard the term "bucket list" - that is, a list of things (such as skydiving or running a marathon) that you want to do before you "kick the bucket." It s a great way to get more out of life - and, similarly, making a rideshare bucket list can help you get more out of your rideshare program. Linda Annala with Los Angeles World Airports would like to add more bike racks and lockers. Sue Clemons with Ikea wants to calculate her real carbon footprint. Whether a new incentive, a daring idea, or just "that thing you ve been meaning to get around to doing," the power of the bucket list is that it s what you want versus what you ve been assigned. Fitting in time to do tasks that you re passionate about can not only increase your rideshare results, it can make you happier in your job. Here, we offer some DOs and DON Ts: DO write it down. chances you ll achieve them. Experts say the very act of writing down goals increases the DON'T feel you have to have a specific number of items in your bucket list. Sean Ogle with Location180, "Don t try to write it all at once. document. Whenever you think of something, add it to the list." Says Think of it as a working DO include something you can do today. "Set up a laptop in the lunchroom and do on-the-spot ridematching." "Call the 511 traveler helpline to test it out." Give yourself the thrill of crossing something off immediately. DO think big. San Bernardino County s Keisha Butler would include on her bucket list giving away an electric vehicle every month to a ridesharer out of her budget right now, but worth aiming for. DON T make all the goals "big" ones. Sure, "attain AVR" can be a biggie if you ve never done it - so by all means write it down! But also include smaller goals that can help get you there, like "start a vanpool" or "throw one really great rideshare bash." DO set time goals. A bucket list implies you ll do things before you die, but your rideshare list might benefit from more specific deadlines. For example, you might say, "update the bulletin board every month for one year" or "attend one network meeting or workshop before Rideshare Week to get new ideas." DON T be vague. If you say, "get more employees to rideshare," it s hard to know when you can check it off your list. Try instead, "start a vanpool" or "get the CEO to rideshare." DO involve your personal interests. This is your Bucket List - the things that you really feel would make your job better and more effective, so don t cheat yourself. If you love singing, why not include an item to have a rideshare karaoke party? If you ve always dreamed of being a writer, start a rideshare blog. DO challenge yourself. If you re shy, how about "attend a workshop and talk to at least five people?" DON T keep it to yourself. Sharing your list with coworkers not only shows your enthusiasm for the job, but it gets others invested as well - both to keep you on track and give you support.

6 EVENTS Metro rideshare workshop and Rideshare Week kickoff (no certificate) is Aug. 16 at Metro offices in downtown Los Angeles; contact Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference is Aug in Chicago, actweb.org. Orange County Transportation Authority Rideshare Week ETC Network Meeting and marketing certificate workshop is Aug. 31, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 at OCTA offices in Orange. Pick up tips and promotional materials to run a campaign at your work site. RSVP to sharetheride@octa.net or call Rideshare Week is Oct. 3-7 the September issue of CommuteSmart News will have details on what's happening in your area. NETWORK MEETINGS Coachella Valley ETC Network meets bi-annually; call IECS4HELP. NETWORK MEETINGS (con't.) Glendale TMA meets regularly; call Orange County Network meets regularly; call or sharetheride@octa.net Riverside County ETC Network meets tri-annually; call IECS4HELP. San Bernardino County ETC Network meets tri-annually; call IECS4HELP. Santa Monica ETC Network meets regularly; call South Bay/Westside TMA meets monthly; contact Christina Corrales at , christina_corrales@equityoffice.com Torrance Transportation Network meets regularly; call Kim Fuentes at Warner Center TMO meets monthly; call TRAINING Metro Commute Services upcoming briefings where Los Angeles area employers can learn about the transportation survey process and services Metro has to offer are July 13, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Aug. 10, 1-3 p.m. and Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. For more information or to reserve a space, blanchardd@metro.net South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) offers one-day ETC training for $ Upcoming sessions are July 13, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8 at AQMD offices in Diamond Bar and Aug. 24 at LAX. Contact the AQMD's training program at etctraining@aqmd.gov or visit the AQMD at aqmd.gov COMMUTESMART NEWS Editor/Writer: Jill Smolinski Art Director: Harlan West For subscription information or to change your COMMUTESMART NEWS address, contact your representative at the rideshare office nearest you. Metro Commute Services One Gateway Plaza MS Los Angeles, CA Business: OCTA s Commuter Solutions 550 S. Main St., Orange, CA Mailing address: PO Box Orange, CA Business: Ventura County Transportation Commission 950 County Square Dr., Ste. 207 Ventura, CA Business: , ext. 119 CommuterServices@goventura.org Inland Empire Commuter Services 7355 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA Business: IECS4HELP ( ) Commuter Information 511 Go511.com IE511.org CommuteSmart.info HWDS06/11