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:Allegheny 417,598Armstrong 25,961Beaver 70,135Butler 66,370Fayette 48,826Greene 11,975Indiana 27,939 Lawrence 29,992Washington 75,025Westmoreland 135,654Total 909,475

2000 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 email, regular mail or fax

Role of Technology

1st 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 $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 - $$$$$

Based on a 30-mile Based on a 30-mile round-trip commuteround-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 providethese 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)

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How You Can Be More Involved

Website: www.CommuteInfo.org

Email: commuteinfo@spcregion.org

Toll-free Phone: 1-888-819-6110

Contact Information