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SANDAG: Managing San Diego’s Commute

SANDAGCouncil of Governments – Transportation, Housing, Habitat Plans, Energy, Public Safety, and Demographics.

RideLink

TDM (Transportation Demand Management)SANDAG programs and strategies that focus on reducing or eliminating trips on the transportation system during rush hours

Regional TDM program to promote commuting alternatives to employers, employees and students

RideLink Program• Mobility management program.

• Encourages the use of alternative commuting:– Carpooling, vanpooling, transit, biking to

work, and flexible work schedules.

• RideLink programs help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Save gas and energy.

RideLink video

• http://www.ridelink.org/AboutUs.aspx

RideLink Program• RideLink has helped 100s of employers

across San Diego to create successful commuting programs– More than 75,000 employees enrolled

• 2 million+ cars taken off the roads and highway during rush hour. That equates to:– 105 million vehicle miles– 5 million gallons of gas– 125 million pounds of global warming

pollution

Carpooling• When compared to driving alone

carpooling helps – Save $$$ on gas and wear and tear on your

car.

– Reduces pollution for a greener commute. • RideLink can help you get started with

its FREE Ridematching service– Secure database to match within company or others

in the County.

• Guaranteed Ride Home program for carpoolers 3 or more times / week

Vanpooling• A vanpool is a big “carpool” where a

group of commuters share leasing a van to work.

– 7 to 15-seat vans available

• FREE Ridematching service at RideLink

• SANDAG’s Vanpool subsidy = $400 savings

– Typical savings:

• 20 miles round-trip commute = $1,000/year

• 50 miles round-trip commute = $4,400/year

VanpoolsSan Diego Regional Vanpool Program

FY01-FY09

Vanpool Growth

Start$400

Subsidy

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How it works• Employee / Participant “owned”• Lease the van on a month-to-month basis,

less $400 subsidy • Need a minimum of 6 riders that share a

similar commute pattern• Employees interview vanpool vendors

regarding van size, type and lease cost– Enterprise and VPSI are our vanpool vendors

• Guaranteed Ride Home program for vanpoolers

Guaranteed Ride Home Program

• Commuters who vanpool, carpool, take express bus, Coaster, or bike to work

• Personal or family illness, unscheduled overtime, or stranded at work due to your carpool/vanpool driver leaving

• Taxi or 24-hour car rental• Easy to remember: 3-3-3

– 3 x per week minimum– $3 co-pay + SANDAG voucher– Can use 3 x per year

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Regional Bike Program

• Bike lockers at 50+ locations throughout the region

• FREE Bike maps available

• Annual Bike to Work Day – Encourages commuters to bike to work

– Promotes Guaranteed Ride Home Program for riders riding a minimum of 3x/week

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Public Transit

• Last year, nearly 100 million people rode the bus, trolley, or Coaster in San Diego County

– 59 million on buses

– 35 million on the trolley

– 1.6 million on the Coaster train

– New Sprinter train projected to have 11,600 daily riders by year’s end

• Tax savings and discounts available to employers to pass onto their employees

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Telework & Flextime• Telework – Program aimed at workplace flexibility.

– Only 4.3% of San Diego workers work at home. Potential is 15.6%, according to 2000 Census.

– If we could raise that number by 6% (2.5 days/week) to 10.3% about 156,000 fewer lbs. of CO2 would be emitted each year (Calculation based on SANDAG report Info Commute Characteristics San Diego Region)

– Such a reduction of commuting would also result in a substantial increase in traffic flow leading to further emissions reduction

• Flextime – variable work schedules can shift employee’s commute to non-peak hours.

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SANDAG New Regional Ride Matching Solution

iCommute – www.icommute.511sd.com

SANDAG New Regional Ride Matching Solution: iCommute

• Simply sign up

• Add your commute trip

• Presented with ride matching options

Safe

• Networks, matching with people you know

• Match within a Company or Social Network– User sets their level of comfort

• Trip Calendar tracks users’ commute choices

Keeping Track

Cost of Commute

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511 – San Diego Traffic, Transit & Commute Information• FREE service• 511 or www.511sd.com• Up-to-minute drive times & traffic maps• Regional transit schedule & fare info• Roadside Assistance• Airport traffic information• Border Crossing times• RideLink programs

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www.511sd.com

Freeway Service Patrol

• Regional motorist aid service

• Patrolling weekdays (during peak commute periods)

• Assisted 56,840 motorists in FY 08

• 32 Tow Trucks and 7 Roving Trucks

• 13 beats covering 225 miles

Good for roadways and good for the environment• Reduce traffic during peak travel periods

• Promotes regional sustainability

• Saves energy. Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint

• The environmentally conscious can “walk the talk”

• Q: All or nothing? Try a blended-commute of 2-3 times per week.

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For more info, contact RideLink Dial 511, say RideLink or :

• Employer Services: – Deborah Jones, Account Executive

(619) 699-6988

• Vanpool Program– Michelle Porter, Vanpool Coordinator

(619) 699-0706

• Bike Program– Maria Filippelli, Bike Program Coordinator

(619) 515-1177