ShareTheRide.com602.262.RIDE (7433)

facebook.com/sharetherideandsaveSponsored by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Air Quality Department and Valley Metro.

WINTER 2020

TH E B LU E S K Y VI EW

FROM VALLEY METRO

20032

3

Cozy Up to Clean AirThe winter pollution season began October 1, 2019. Our peskiest winter pollutants are PM-10 and PM-2.5. PM stands for Particulate Matter; PM-10 particles are less than 10 microns in diameter while PM 2.5 is less than 2.5 microns across. By contrast, the average human hair is about 70 microns in diameter.

Because PM-10 and PM-2.5 are so tiny, they can:

• Create the ugly “brown cloud” that’s especially visible in winter

• Damage sensitive plants and crops

• Cause problems for individuals with asthma, emphysema and other conditions

Maricopa County has two programs aimed at helping reduce PM pollution. Their Fireplace Retrofi t program gives residents within a certain boundary the opportunity get natural gas logs and/or air pollution reduction devices installed if they meet certain requirements. The Propane Fire Pit program is an eff ort to reduce smoke produced by outdoor wood burning fi re pits. Find out about both programs at cleanairmakemore.com.

Let's Be Besties!Valley Metro’s Commute Solutions team and its trip-matching system, ShareTheRide.com, are on Facebook. Check us out for alternative mode tips, contests and inspiration.

Transit Service ChangesDon’t forget! Valley Metro service changes occur twice a year. The latest round of changes took eff ect October 28, 2019. A new transit book is available at valleymetro.org/transit-book-online.

Wonderful WebinarsBe sure to check your kit for a list of 2020 Transportation Coordinator webinars. Off ered monthly, these interactive sessions will keep you informed and inspired on all things TRP-related.

Training Now MandatoryHeads up! Maricopa County now requires TCs to take Valley Metro’s online Intro to TRP training. The module is free and can be started and stopped as often as needed for your convenience. When fi nished, you may download or print a certifi cate and handbook. How handy! Find the training modules at valleymetro.org/trp-training.

facebook.com/sharetherideandsave

“I always come away with good ideas and tips. The webinars are so very inclusive. Awesome!” Patti M.

“I enjoyed this webinar because it helps a lot for organizing the TRP records. It was so clear and informative.” Kenan A.

Buy Your Transit Pass BeforeYou BoardSave time when you buy your pass before boarding the bus or light rail. There are nearly 700 locations valleywide where you can purchase your pass. For a complete list of retail locations, along with the types of passes available and store hours, visit valleymetro.org.

Welcome to winter and thank you to Transportation Coordinators (TCs), Alternative Mode Users (AMUs) and all who support cleaner air and less traffi c congestion. Here is your Winter 2019/2020 TC Kit!

We developed this newsletter and the kit contents to promote the Maricopa County Travel Reduction Program (TRP), provide updates and inspire action toward cleaner air.

Use the kit materials to:

• Freshen bulletin boards

• Add interest to emails

• Support your company’s TRP eff orts

As always, feel free to contact your Commute Solutions coordinator at 602.262.RIDE (7433) for support.

Outstanding Transportation Coordinator50-250 EmployeesKatie Kes, VEREIT, Inc.

Outstanding Transportation Coordinator251-500 EmployeesJulie Insidioso, The Hillman Group

Outstanding Transportation CoordinatorMore than 500 Employees – Public EmployerMary Marshall, State of Arizona

Outstanding Transportation CoordinatorMore than 500 Employees – Private EmployerValerie Payson, Bashas’

Outstanding Travel Reduction Program50-250 EmployeesInventure Foods

Outstanding Travel Reduction Program251-500 EmployeesThe Hillman Group

Outstanding Travel Reduction ProgramMore than 500 Employees – Public EmployerTwo winners: Maricopa County & State of Arizona

Outstanding Travel Reduction ProgramMore than 500 Employees – Private EmployerCharles Schwab

Outstanding Marketing & CreativityElectronic and/or Print MediaFox Restaurant Concepts

Outstanding Marketing & CreativityEvent or Campaign – Less than $500 budgetGarmin International

Outstanding Marketing & CreativityEvent or Campaign – More than $500 budgetSRP – Change Starts with ME

Outstanding Commuter – Carpooler or VanpoolerCandace Lee

Outstanding Commuter – Carpooler or VanpoolerMohsen Askarinya, Honeywell International

Outstanding Commuter – Bicyclist or WalkerTwo winners: Scott Peters, Honeywell International & Davis Robinson, City of Chandler

Outstanding Multi-Modal CommuterTony Plata, City of Scottsdale

MAG Livable CommunitiesCity of Tempe

Corporate Sustainability500-1,500 EmployeesCity of Avondale – Aquaculture Facility

Corporate SustainabilityMore than 1,500 EmployeesRepublic Services

People's Choice Most Creative Bulletin BoardVEREIT, Inc.

Blue Sky AwardDowntown Phoenix Partnership – Clean and Green Team

Jenny’s Sweet on CarpoolingJenny’s Sweet on Carpooling

Spotlight

Rideshare Month RockedOctober was Rideshare Month and you did not disappoint! Based on the number of pledges, contest entries and social media interaction, the whole Valley is keen on clean air. Some results:

• 677 people took the online pledge to participate

• 21 Commuter Challenge teams representing 238 members competed for prizes and bragging rights

• Tons of air pollution and thousands of dollars in fuel costs were saved

Meet Jenny, a high school environmental science teacher who walks the talk by carpooling one day a week with a fellow teacher for the past three years.

When she fi rst started, she appreciated having a colleague to share insights. “It was great to ride home together and pick her brain since I was so new. It made the fi rst year on the job less overwhelming,” Jenny explained.

Jenny stresses the importance of being organized and planning. “It’s also important to be fl exible for work meetings. Sometimes one of us may

have to work longer, but the benefi ts outweigh any hassles.”

She encourages others just to start. “There are so many excuses,” she said. “We all have obstacles but give it a few times to see the benefi ts for yourself. You can also fi nd potential matches at ShareTheRide.com. Also, we share driving responsibility so we can both save money.”

Jenny is excited to share her story with others, especially her students. “I am passionate about the environment,” she said. “A little inconvenience is small in comparison to the benefi ts to the environment.”

31st Annual Clean Air Campaign Awards and LuncheonThank you to all who submitted entries for this year’s awards. On October 30, 2019, we recognized those who make extraordinary achievements toward clean air eff orts.

CLEAN AIR CAMPAIGN AWARD WINNERS:

IN THE

Winners will be listed at http://bit.ly/37Er8ga. See Commuter Challenge results at http://bit.ly/2rlCLYo.

Outstanding Transportation Coordinator50-250 EmployeesKatie Kes, VEREIT, Inc.

Outstanding Transportation Coordinator251-500 EmployeesJulie Insidioso, The Hillman Group

Outstanding Transportation CoordinatorMore than 500 Employees – Public EmployerMary Marshall, State of Arizona

Outstanding Transportation CoordinatorMore than 500 Employees – Private EmployerValerie Payson, Bashas’

Outstanding Travel Reduction Program50-250 EmployeesInventure Foods

Outstanding Travel Reduction Program251-500 EmployeesThe Hillman Group

Outstanding Travel Reduction ProgramMore than 500 Employees – Public EmployerTwo winners: Maricopa County & State of Arizona

Outstanding Travel Reduction ProgramMore than 500 Employees – Private EmployerCharles Schwab

Outstanding Marketing & CreativityElectronic and/or Print MediaFox Restaurant Concepts

Outstanding Marketing & CreativityEvent or Campaign – Less than $500 budgetGarmin International

Outstanding Marketing & CreativityEvent or Campaign – More than $500 budgetSRP – Change Starts with ME

Outstanding Commuter – Carpooler or VanpoolerCandace Lee

Outstanding Commuter – Carpooler or VanpoolerMohsen Askarinya, Honeywell International

Outstanding Commuter – Bicyclist or WalkerTwo winners: Scott Peters, Honeywell International & Davis Robinson, City of Chandler

Outstanding Multi-Modal CommuterTony Plata, City of Scottsdale

MAG Livable CommunitiesCity of Tempe

Corporate Sustainability500-1,500 EmployeesCity of Avondale – Aquaculture Facility

Corporate SustainabilityMore than 1,500 EmployeesRepublic Services

People's Choice Most Creative Bulletin BoardVEREIT, Inc.

Blue Sky AwardDowntown Phoenix Partnership – Clean and Green Team

Jenny’s Sweet on CarpoolingJenny’s Sweet on Carpooling

Spotlight

Rideshare Month RockedOctober was Rideshare Month and you did not disappoint! Based on the number of pledges, contest entries and social media interaction, the whole Valley is keen on clean air. Some results:

• 677 people took the online pledge to participate

• 21 Commuter Challenge teams representing 238 members competed for prizes and bragging rights

• Tons of air pollution and thousands of dollars in fuel costs were saved

Meet Jenny, a high school environmental science teacher who walks the talk by carpooling one day a week with a fellow teacher for the past three years.

When she fi rst started, she appreciated having a colleague to share insights. “It was great to ride home together and pick her brain since I was so new. It made the fi rst year on the job less overwhelming,” Jenny explained.

Jenny stresses the importance of being organized and planning. “It’s also important to be fl exible for work meetings. Sometimes one of us may

have to work longer, but the benefi ts outweigh any hassles.”

She encourages others just to start. “There are so many excuses,” she said. “We all have obstacles but give it a few times to see the benefi ts for yourself. You can also fi nd potential matches at ShareTheRide.com. Also, we share driving responsibility so we can both save money.”

Jenny is excited to share her story with others, especially her students. “I am passionate about the environment,” she said. “A little inconvenience is small in comparison to the benefi ts to the environment.”

31st Annual Clean Air Campaign Awards and LuncheonThank you to all who submitted entries for this year’s awards. On October 30, 2019, we recognized those who make extraordinary achievements toward clean air eff orts.

CLEAN AIR CAMPAIGN AWARD WINNERS:

IN THE

Winners will be listed at http://bit.ly/37Er8ga. See Commuter Challenge results at http://bit.ly/2rlCLYo.

ShareTheRide.com602.262.RIDE (7433)

facebook.com/sharetherideandsaveSponsored by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Maricopa Association of Governments, Maricopa County Air Quality Department and Valley Metro.

WINTER 2020

TH E B LU E S K Y VI EW

FROM VALLEY METRO

20032

3

Cozy Up to Clean AirThe winter pollution season began October 1, 2019. Our peskiest winter pollutants are PM-10 and PM-2.5. PM stands for Particulate Matter; PM-10 particles are less than 10 microns in diameter while PM 2.5 is less than 2.5 microns across. By contrast, the average human hair is about 70 microns in diameter.

Because PM-10 and PM-2.5 are so tiny, they can:

• Create the ugly “brown cloud” that’s especially visible in winter

• Damage sensitive plants and crops

• Cause problems for individuals with asthma, emphysema and other conditions

Maricopa County has two programs aimed at helping reduce PM pollution. Their Fireplace Retrofi t program gives residents within a certain boundary the opportunity get natural gas logs and/or air pollution reduction devices installed if they meet certain requirements. The Propane Fire Pit program is an eff ort to reduce smoke produced by outdoor wood burning fi re pits. Find out about both programs at cleanairmakemore.com.

Let's Be Besties!Valley Metro’s Commute Solutions team and its trip-matching system, ShareTheRide.com, are on Facebook. Check us out for alternative mode tips, contests and inspiration.

Transit Service ChangesDon’t forget! Valley Metro service changes occur twice a year. The latest round of changes took eff ect October 28, 2019. A new transit book is available at valleymetro.org/transit-book-online.

Wonderful WebinarsBe sure to check your kit for a list of 2020 Transportation Coordinator webinars. Off ered monthly, these interactive sessions will keep you informed and inspired on all things TRP-related.

Training Now MandatoryHeads up! Maricopa County now requires TCs to take Valley Metro’s online Intro to TRP training. The module is free and can be started and stopped as often as needed for your convenience. When fi nished, you may download or print a certifi cate and handbook. How handy! Find the training modules at valleymetro.org/trp-training.

facebook.com/sharetherideandsave

“I always come away with good ideas and tips. The webinars are so very inclusive. Awesome!” Patti M.

“I enjoyed this webinar because it helps a lot for organizing the TRP records. It was so clear and informative.” Kenan A.

Buy Your Transit Pass BeforeYou BoardSave time when you buy your pass before boarding the bus or light rail. There are nearly 700 locations valleywide where you can purchase your pass. For a complete list of retail locations, along with the types of passes available and store hours, visit valleymetro.org.

Welcome to winter and thank you to Transportation Coordinators (TCs), Alternative Mode Users (AMUs) and all who support cleaner air and less traffi c congestion. Here is your Winter 2019/2020 TC Kit!

We developed this newsletter and the kit contents to promote the Maricopa County Travel Reduction Program (TRP), provide updates and inspire action toward cleaner air.

Use the kit materials to:

• Freshen bulletin boards

• Add interest to emails

• Support your company’s TRP eff orts

As always, feel free to contact your Commute Solutions coordinator at 602.262.RIDE (7433) for support.