Transcript What is BCTA? - CommuteInfo.org

Transportation 101
August 7, 2008
Presenting Agencies
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Southwestern PA Commission’s CommuteInfo
program
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IndiGO: Indiana County Transit Authority
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Indiana County Department Of Human Services:
Medical Assistance Transportation Program
What Will You Learn Today?
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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?
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Public Transportation (Fixed Route)
Carpooling/Vanpooling
Demand and Response Transit (Shared Ride)
Taxi
Bicycle
Walking
Public Transportation –
What is Fact or Fiction?
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Transit ridership is increasing
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Public transportation is not reliable
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The average household spends 18 cents on
transportation, and 94 percent of this goes to
buying, maintaining and operating cars.
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Transit availability can reduce the need for an
additional car, a yearly expense of $6,251 in a
household budget.
Introducing…
CommuteInfo
a better way to work
History
 The
Southwestern PA
Commission has promoted
ridesharing and alternative
commuting options for
almost 30 years
Mission
CommuteInfo is dedicated to increasing the
number of commuters in Southwestern
Pennsylvania sharing a ride to work or school.
Transit
 Vanpools
 Carpools
 Biking
 Walking
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Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Butler
Greene
Fayette
Indiana
Lawrence
Washington
Westmoreland
Regional Commuters
Workers Commuting to Jobs
Outside their Resident
Municipality:
Allegheny
417,598
Armstrong
25,961
Beaver
70,135
Butler
66,370
Fayette
48,826
Greene
11,975
Indiana
27,939
Lawrence
29,992
Washington
75,025
Westmoreland 135,654
Total
909,475
2000 US Census Data
Working Together
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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
Commuting Options
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
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Transit Information & Referral
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!”
Vanpools
Currently, CommuteInfo sponsors 42 vanpools
in the region, carrying over 900 passengers
each day.
Carpools
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Great
introduction to
ridesharing
Only need 2
people
Can use the
HOV lanes
Allows for
flexibility
Biking and Walking
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Option for
some
End of
commute for
everyone
(walking)
Promote
healthier
lifestyles
Role of Technology
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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
1st Step…The Commuter Profile
Result…Personalized Cover
Letter
& Ridematching Report
#1 Commuter Benefit - $$$$$
Driving alone costs me how much?
If you had a 30-mile round-trip commute
at 52 cents per mile:
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Your daily commute cost would be
Your monthly commute cost would be
Your annual commute cost would be
$15.60
$327.60
$3,931.20
This does not even include the cost of parking and tolls!
American Automobile Association
Compare Annual Average Costs
Based on a 30-mile
round-trip commute
Driving Alone $3,931
Transit $ 990
(Port Authority - Zone 2)
A $2,941
savings!!
Vanpool
$1,200
A $2,731
savings!!
Employer Benefits
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Save money through
Commuter Choice, pre-tax
benefits
Employees arrive on time
Allow for customer & visitor
parking
Commuter Choice
What are the Commuter Choice Tax
Incentives?
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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?
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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
Our Services Include
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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)
How You Can Be More Involved
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Bi-monthly Partner
Meetings
Committees – Marketing,
Programs & Evaluation,
Development
Advisory Councils –
Commuter and Employer
Subscribe to CommuteInfo
quarterly e-newsletters
(commuters & employers)
Contact Information
Website: www.CommuteInfo.org
Email: [email protected]
Toll-free Phone: 1-888-819-6110