New Service Launched for Employers During Rideshare Month

Contact:
Tara LaBouff
R&R Partners
602-317-6064
602-670-6121
tara.labouff@rrpartners.com

PHOENIX (Jan. 30, 2009) – Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority rolls out new promotions during February to help commuters identify and explore other ways to get to work besides driving alone. Driving alone in a typical vehicle adds one pound of pollution to the air every 45 miles, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments. Meanwhile, the average commute length grew last year to 15.5 miles from 14.4 miles in 2007.

Commuter Mapping

During February’s “Valley Metro Rideshare Month,” declared by Gov. Janice K. Brewer, the Valley Metro Business Services department will meet with employers across Maricopa County to introduce the new commuter mapping tool – custom software that can pair colleagues for carpooling and vanpooling or match them to the nearest public transportation route.

Two webinars on Feb. 11 and Feb. 17 will help companies learn about the importance of clean air and the new tool, which is completed for the employer by Valley Metro Business Services. That seven-person staff is led by Business Services Manager Tony Bowman, a veteran of suburban Chicago’s Pace system.

“This new service makes it convenient for businesses to give their employees an added benefit - low-cost commuting,” Bowman says. “Both the employers who help their staff rideshare and employees who stop driving alone tell us that sharing the ride brought rewards they never expected. We’re excited to show more businesses how they can do this, too.”

Additional elements of Rideshare Month include:

Video Contest

For the first time, Valley Metro invites local residents to submit video stories about their commutes in a contest called “Next Stop: Lights, Camera, Action!” One-minute videos about the benefits of sharing the ride can be uploaded to www.ValleyMetro.org/videostories through Feb. 28. The public is asked to vote for their favorite transit story each week. All entrants receive a 4-pack of ASU basketball tickets and the weekly winner also receives a 31-day transit pass.

Singles Mingle

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, Valley Metro invites young professionals on board the new LINK bus to learn about various ways of commuting and potentially link up with each other. Similar to speed dating events held in the past, singles will change partners every time the bus stops during a special evening route through Scottsdale. A new Transit Connection Survey will help singles identify who has similar commute attitudes and styles.

Friday, Feb. 13
6:15 – 9:00 p.m.
Hotel Indigo – 4415 N. Civic Center Plaza, Scottsdale
Register at www.cupid.com/predating
Enter zip code 85251

Cost is $25 payable to Cupid.com

Valley Metro/RPTA provides eco-friendly public transit options to residents of greater Phoenix and Maricopa County, including a clean-fuel bus fleet, low-emissions light rail, online carpool matching and bus trip mapping, and bicycle and telework assistance. Funding is provided by local, state and federal revenues; and administered by a board of 15 governments working to improve and regionalize the public transit system.

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