Transportation 101

1. Transportation 101 June 12, 2008

2. Presenting Agencies • Southwestern PA Commission’s CommuteInfo program • GG & C Bus Company, Inc. • Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority • Washington County Transportation Authority

3. What Will You Learn Today? • What transportation options are available to your clients • How to determine if your client lives near a bus route • How to help plan a trip using bus schedules • The cost of a bus ride and how to pay • Who to contact for additional questions

4. What are Transportation Options? • Public Transportation (Fixed Route) • Carpooling/Vanpooling • Demand and Response Transit (Shared Ride) • Taxi • Bicycle • Walking

5. Public Transportation – What is Fact or Fiction? • Transit ridership is increasing • Public transportation is not reliable • If you live in Washington County and work in Pittsburgh, there is no public transportation you can use to get to work

6. Introducing… CommuteInfo a better way to work

7. History • The Southwestern PA Commission has promoted ridesharing and alternative commuting options for almost 30 years • Ridesharing efforts have intensified during two oil crises, two Port Authority strikes and major highway projects

8. Mission CommuteInfo is dedicated to increasing the number of commuters in Southwestern Pennsylvania sharing a ride to work or school. • Transit • Vanpools • Carpools • Biking • Walking

9. Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Butler Greene Fayette Indiana Lawrence Washington Westmoreland

10. Regional Commuters Workers Commuting to Jobs Outside their Resident Municipality: Allegheny 417,598 Armstrong 25,961 Beaver 70,135 Butler 66,370 Fayette 48,826 Greene 11,975 Indiana 27,939 Lawrence 29,992 Washington 75,025 Westmoreland 135,654 Total 909,475 2000 US Census Data

11. Working Together • Airport Corridor Transportation Management Association • Brooke, Hancock, Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Organization • Oakland Transportation Management Association • PennDOT • Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership • Port Authority • Southwestern PA Commission • Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board • University of Pittsburgh

12. Commuting Options Not a one size fits all… we are helping commuters to make educated choice(s), to choose the option(s) which works best for them • Building Awareness • Educating • Promoting Choices

13. Transit Information & Referral Kelly’s Story “I had been commuting into downtown Pittsburgh for my job for over one year. I knew the 1-1/4 hour drive was frustrating, but it was also costing me a lot of money - $2860 a year, just in parking!”

14. Vanpools Currently, CommuteInfo sponsors 38 vanpools in the region, carrying over 860 passengers each day.

15. Carpools • Great introduction to ridesharing • Only need 2 people • Can use the HOV lanes • Allows for flexibility

16. Biking and Walking • Option for some • End of commute for everyone (walking) • Promote healthier lifestyles

17. Role of Technology • Ridematching service accessible 24-hours a day through program website • User-defined matching criteria • Receive match lists, transit and ridesharing information via email, regular mail or fax

18. 1st Step…The Commuter Profile

19. Result…Personalized Cover Letter

20. & Ridematching Report

21. #1 Commuter Benefit - $$$$$ • Driving alone costs me how much? • If you had a 30-mile round-trip commute • at 52 cents per mile: • Your daily commute cost would be $15.60 • Your monthly commute cost would be $327.60 • Your annual commute cost would be $3,931.20 • This does not even include the cost of parking and tolls! • American Automobile Association

22. Compare Annual Average Costs • Based on a 30-mile • round-trip commute Driving Alone $3,931 • Vanpool $1,200 • A $2,731 savings!! • Transit $ 990 • (Port Authority - Zone 2) • A $2,941 savings!!

23. Employer Benefits • Save money through Commuter Choice, pre-tax benefits • Employees arrive on time • Allow for customer & visitor parking

24. Commuter Choice What are the Commuter Choice Tax Incentives? • Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits - purchased by employer and offered to employee free or subsidized • Transit or vanpool passes or vouchers (up to $115 per month) • Qualified parking spaces in conjunction with transit use (up to $210 per month) • Tax free to employees & tax deduction to employers Why do employers choose to provide these benefits? • Reduce traffic congestion, reduce need for parking • Improve air quality, conserve energy • Save money for employer & employee • Low cost compared to other benefits • Attract and retain qualified workforce

25. Our Services Include • RideMatching Reports • Information and Referral • Park and Ride Lot Information • Community/Organizational Speaker • Travel Training • Transportation Information Table (Commute Options Awareness Event) • Individualized Employer Transportation Needs Assessment • Employer Relocation Assistance (commuting alternatives)

26. How You Can Be More Involved • Bi-monthly Partner Meetings • Committees – Marketing, Programs & Evaluation, Development • Advisory Councils – Commuter and Employer • Subscribe to CommuteInfo quarterly e-newsletters (commuters & employers) Gfgdfgf Gfxd

27. Contact Information Website:www.CommuteInfo.org Email:commuteinfo@spcregion.org Toll-free Phone: 1-888-819-6110