VALLEY METRO TRANSIT SYSTEM –  Overview –History  In 1985, the Arizona State Legislature passed a law enabling the citizens of Maricopa County to vote on a sales tax increase to fund regional freeway improvements and provide for the creation of the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA)  October of that year, Maricopa County voters approved passage…  In 1988, Scottsdale residents passed a transportation tax….  In 1993, the RPTA Board of Directors adopted Valley Metro as the identity for the regional transit system….

–History continued  In 1996, Tempe residents passed a half-cent sales tax for transit….  In 1998, Mesa residents passed a quality-of-life half-cent sales tax, which dedicated a small portion for transit….  In 2000, Phoenix residents passed a four-tenths of a percent sales tax for Transit  In 2001, Glendale residents passed a half-cent sales tax dedicated for transit….

History continued  In 2004, Maricopa County residents extended the half-cent county- wide sales tax originally authorized in The tax allocates…. $5.8 billion (before inflation) for transit, including light rail.  In 2005, Peoria voters approved a three-tenths cent sales tax increase dedicated to transportation projects and services in Peoria….

VALLEY METRO TRANSIT SYSTEM –  Valley Metro provides transportation solutions that make the Valley a better place to live, work, play and visit. –Highlights of Valley Metro services include:  Local, Express and RAPID commuter bus service  Neighborhood circulators  Dial-a-Ride  Vanpool service  Online carpool matching system  Assistance to local businesses to help them meet the Maricopa County trip reduction goals through alternative modes of transportation (bus, carpool, vanpool, bike, telework, etc.)  METRO light rail, scheduled to begin service in 2008

Carpool Maximize Your Time, Reduce Fuel Costs Finding alternative ways to get to work is not only good for the air, it is good for you! Carpooling cuts down on congestion and pollution. If you reduce the miles put on your car, you will have fewer oil changes and you won't have to replace brakes and tires as often. YOU SAVE MONEY! You could be eligible for discounted car insurance, too! (Check with your insurance agent.)

One of the easiest ways you can help to cut down on the Valley's air pollution is to find a carpool partner to share the ride with at least one day a week! Not only does carpooling help reduce air pollution, it can also: –Reduce Insurance premiums by eliminating or limiting use of personal vehicle for daily commuting –Reduce stress –Helps clean the air –Provide useable time for riders--read, sleep, work, and talk (network.) –Save you time by using the HOV lanes. –Reserved Parking space

The benefits are not just limited to the road. Once you get to work, no more searching for a good parking spot. Registered carpoolers are eligible for Preferred Parking available at your work site. This means your parking space is always waiting for you. Ready to Register? Complete the Preferred Parking Request form and contact your campus Trip Reduction Coordinator to become a registered carpooler.

Vanpool Socialize, Catch up on work, Sit back and relax A Great Alternative to Driving Alone ** Valley Metro provides vans to qualifying groups of 6-15 commuters. They share a ride in a comfortable van driven by one of the vanpool members. Passengers share the cost of operating the van by paying an equitable monthly fare. The fare covers all costs including gas, insurance, and van maintenance. Easy Steps to Forming a Vanpool Valley Metro's Vanpool Program provides the wheels and helps to get your new vanpool going. Whether your group needs a 9 or 15 passenger split-bench van, or an 8, 12, or 14 passenger super luxury, captain chair seating, we will provide the vehicle, insurance and maintenance to keep your van running in tip-top shape

The monthly Vanpool fares are based on round trip mileage so the farther you must travel, the more you save. Since costs are shared equally, the more riders in your vanpool, the less you pay. The monthly saving can really add up!  Vanpool Fares  Fares are based on $3.37 per gallon for Regular Unleaded (Source: Average gasoline price Arizona AAA 4/23/08).  Vans get 14 mpg for 8 & 9-passenger vans and 10 mph for 14 & 15-passenger vans. Fares may vary based on actual mileage for picking up passengers.

8 Passenger Luxury Seat Vanpool – monthly fee Daily Round Trip MileageNumber of Paying Riders Start Range MileageEnd Range Mileage876 09$53.66$61.33$ $62.50$71.42$ $72.11$82.41$ $81.57$93.22$ $91.47$104.54$ $101.22$115.68$ $111.53$127.46$ $121.84$139.24$ $131.74$150.56$ $141.49$161.70$188.65

Some Perks for vanpooling:  Access to HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane  Reduce wear and tear of personal vehicle  Preferred Parking Privileges/Covered Parking  Networking with others  Insurance for drivers, riders, and vans  Convenient locations for van maintenance  Loaner van while yours is in the shop  Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) should you have an emergency up to twice a year (Valley Metro)  24-hour roadside assistance If any campus is interested in forming there own vanpool program please contact Valley Metro’s Vanpool Coordinator at (602) , or at: Gary Roberts

TELECOMMUTE Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) considers telecommuting to be a viable alternative work arrangement in certain circumstances which, when properly implemented and administered, benefits both MCCCD and the telecommuter. MCCCD defines telecommuting as "a work arrangement in which some part of the regularly scheduled work is performed at an off-campus worksite such as the home, on the road, or in an office space near home.”

 Telecommuting is a voluntary work alternative  It is not an entitlement; it is not a college-wide benefit  All MCCCD employees, including telecommuters, are subject to MCCCD’s policies and procedures  Managers of telecommuters must focus on the quality, quantity, and timeliness of the work product, rather than on the process the telecommuter used to achieve the end result  Managers must manage by objectives or results, rather than by observation

Positions best suited for telecommuting are positions where:  Activities can be effectively performed outside the office  Contact with other employees and customers are predictable and can be scheduled  Adequate security of data can be assured for the work handled at an alternate work site  The technology needed to perform the job off-site is currently available  Cyclical work does not present a problem  Customer contact can be readjusted to allow for telephone communications or such contact can be conducted when the employee is in the office  The use of photocopies, fax machines or other specialized equipment can be scheduled for days the employee is in the office

 Approvals for telecommuting should be made on a case-by-case basis  The position should be re-evaluated to determine if telecommuting continues to best meet the department's needs

 Benefits of Telecommuting:  Employer Benefits –Helps achieve Trip Reduction Goal –Increases Productivity –Decreases Absenteeism –Improves employee morale –Decreases overhead –Provides a Great retention and recruitment tool  Employee Benefits –Decreases Stress –Decreases or eliminates commute time and expenses –Increases job satisfaction/Improves work environment –Decreases work related expenses –Provides balance between work and family life

Compressed Work Week Defined as an option to work more hours per day but fewer days within a one or two week period, compressed work week variations include 9/80, 4/40, and 3/36. Compressed -- or alternate -- work schedules offer many benefits to both employers and employees.

Compressed Work Week Benefits –  Helps achieve TRP goals  Gains hours of coverage for business services without paying overtime wages  Provides a recruitment tool  Reduces employee absenteeism and tardiness  Increases employee morale  Can provide three or four day weekends

Benefits continued:  Offers an opportunity to help "clear the air"  Increases morale, employee loyalty  Decreases absenteeism and tardiness  Provides better balance between work/personal time  One of the most coveted benefits an employer can offer  Reduces vacation time used

CYCLING  With our excellent year-round weather, cycling or walking is a great alternative mode of transportation for Valley commuters and residents. Not only is cycling or walking a great way to exercise each day, but it cuts down on traffic congestion and reduces air pollution.

 Did you know that in Maricopa County there are 1,345 miles of bike lanes, which includes multi-use, paved multi-use, bike lanes, and bike routes on street? And that number is growing all the time  Go to the Maricopa Association of Governments' Regional Bike Map to plan your route. Remember to follow all laws when cycling and be safe. Always wear a helmet Regional Bike MapRegional Bike Map

WALKING  With our excellent year-round weather, cycling or walking is a great alternative mode of transportation for Valley commuters and residents. Not only is cycling or walking a great way to exercise each day, but it cuts down on traffic congestion and reduces air pollution.

Valley Metro-Light Rail System  METRO opens for passenger service in December, with a free-ride weekend on Dec. 27 and 28, 2008  system will carry 3,000-5,000 passengers per hour  Light rail trains will operate approximately 20 hours per day  seven days a week  arrive at stations every 10 minutes during daytime hours and every 20 minutes during nighttime hours, weekends and holiday  capacity to transport up to 15,000 people per hour

 low-floor vehicles - passengers will not have to step up or down to board  Each vehicle accommodates four wheelchairs and has four bicycle racks - Wheelchairs do not need tie-downs in the vehicles because of the computer-controlled, smooth braking action  METRO system is designed to integrate seamlessly with Valley Metro bus service and will share the same fare structure  all-day pass is good for local bus and rail service  METRO - bringing Valley residents a new way to get to work and play, and to connect to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Future Light Rail Extensions The Regional Transportation Plan includes 37 miles of future high capacity/light rail transit extensions in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale. Planned extensions include:  Northwest: light rail extension to the Rose Mofford Park area. Will be a phased project, with Phase I scheduled to open in 2012  Tempe South: extension will travel southbound from the Central Phoenix/East Valley starter line in Tempe and is scheduled to open 2015

More Light Rail Extensions  Central Mesa: extension will travel eastbound from the end of the Central Phoenix/East Valley starter line to the Mesa Town Center area. Planning efforts are underway and the extension is scheduled to open in 2015  Glendale: This extension will travel westbound to the downtown Glendale area and is scheduled to open  I-10 West: This extension will travel westbound to the 79th Avenue park-and-ride area. Planning efforts are underway and the extension is scheduled to open in  Northeast: This extension will travel generally along the SR-51 corridor north to Paradise Valley Mall area and is scheduled to open in 2025.