Transportation 101 August 7, 2008

Presenting Agencies  Southwestern PA Commission’s CommuteInfo program  IndiGO: Indiana County Transit Authority  Indiana County Department Of Human Services: Medical Assistance Transportation Program

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

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

Public Transportation – What is Fact or Fiction?  Transit ridership is increasing  Public transportation is not reliable  The average household spends 18 cents on transportation, and 94 percent of this goes to buying, maintaining and operating cars.  Transit availability can reduce the need for an additional car, a yearly expense of $6,251 in a household budget.

CommuteInfo Introducing… a better way to work

History  The Southwestern PA Commission has promoted ridesharing and alternative commuting options for almost 30 years

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

Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Butler Greene Fayette Indiana Lawrence Washington Westmoreland

Workers Commuting to Jobs Outside their Resident Municipality: Allegheny417,598 Armstrong25,961 Beaver70,135 Butler 66,370 Fayette48,826 Greene 11,975 Indiana 27,939 Lawrence29,992 Washington 75,025 Westmoreland 135,654 Total 909, US Census Data Regional Commuters

 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 Working Together

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 Commuting Options

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!” Transit Information & Referral

Currently, CommuteInfo sponsors 42 vanpools in the region, carrying over 900 passengers each day. Vanpools

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

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

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

1 st Step…The Commuter Profile

Result…Personalized Cover Letter

& Ridematching Report

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 $ Your annual commute cost would be$3, This does not even include the cost of parking and tolls! American Automobile Association #1 Commuter Benefit - $$$$$

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!! Compare Annual Average Costs

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

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 Commuter Choice

 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) Our Services Include

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

Website: Toll-free Phone: Contact Information