1. Transportation 101 August 7, 2008

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

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  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.

6. CommuteInfo Introducing… a better way to work

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

8. 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

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

10. 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 909,475 2000 US Census Data Regional Commuters

11.  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

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

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

17.  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 Role of Technology

18. 1 st Step…The Commuter Profile

19. Result…Personalized Cover Letter

20. & Ridematching Report

21. 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 #1 Commuter Benefit - $$$$$

22. 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

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

24. 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

25.  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

26.  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

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