MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE THE TRAVEL REDUCTION PROGRAM (TRP)Transportation Coordinators (TCs) can help increase awareness and encourage employees and driving-age students to use alternative modes of transportation by placing brochures, maps and Ride Guides in high-traffic areas, such as a lunch room or lobby. Order your materials here. Consult your Commute Solutions representative for assistance.

T H E B L U E S K Y V I E WFALL 2016

October is Rideshare MonthValley Metro encourages you to try alternative modes of transportation and work schedules. You’ll be in good company, as Rideshare Month is celebrated nationwide every year and makes a substantial impact.

Participants can expect to save money on commute costs, prevent vehicle emission pollution, reduce traffic congestion, minimize stress, arrive to work sooner when using the HOV lane and much more!

Alternative modes of transportation also lead to better health. Bicyclists, walkers and those who take transit go the extra mile – literally! Burn calories, reduce stress and have fun during Rideshare Month.

Take the pledge to use an alternative mode, register for a free account at ShareTheRide.com, track trips, and enter to win great rewards! Spread the word and have fun by competing with others in the Commuter Challenge. Details are available in the Fall Transportation Coordinator (TC) Kit being mailed mid-August and can also be found here.

Rideshare Month 2015 Last year, Rideshare Month included 1,658 Valley commuters who pledged to take an alternative mode of transportation; 65,600 alternative mode commute trips were logged, preventing 231 tons of pollution; and 29 Commuter Challenge teams that consisted of 462 participants logged 12,717 trips and saved 185,929 miles driven!

October is Rideshare

MonthBE A HERO

Ginni Naegle, Director of Operations and Transportation Coordinator at RMH Franchise, aka Applebee’s

MANAGING MULTIPLE SITES IN THE TRAVEL REDUCTION PROGRAM (TRP)There are nearly 1,200 organizations in Maricopa County’s Travel Reduction Program (TRP). With many organizations that have multiple sites, there are countless participants and potential recruits.

Typically, one transportation coordinator (TC) is appointed to manage the TRP, but if there is more than one site, the TC may depend on site coordinators to help with the following:

• Promote alternative modes of transportation • Update bulletin boards • Assist with carpool and vanpool formation • Co-host TRP events • Record-keeping • And much more

The goal is to achieve consistency and diligence across all sites. Managing multiple sites can present challenges. Meet Ginni Naegle, Director of Operations at RMH Franchise, aka Applebee’s, who knows firsthand this to be true. “We currently have 18 sites in the TRP and 18 site coordinators to execute our travel reduction goals,” she explained.

Ms. Naegle described how her site coordinators provide support in her absence, “The tasks that these site coordinators are assigned include sharing communications with employees, distributing gift cards to monthly contest winners, updating bulletin boards in break rooms, maintaining transit books for route planning and providing online assistance when employees email questions.”

Of course, there are ongoing challenges, whether companies have multiple sites or not. “The greatest challenge is keeping the team engaged and following up on documentation to ensure that we pass the annual audit,” Ms. Naegle proclaimed with a bit of a sigh. Documentation is key: keep receipts for all expenses, obtain signatures of all winners and maintain a log of participants using alternative modes of transportation. Valley Metro’s Pre-Audit Checklist can yield preparedness.

“We overcome the challenges by communicating with site coordinators on a regular basis the importance of achieving cleaner air. I share materials that I receive electronically and in the mail on a monthly basis,” Ms. Naegle expanded on her goals. “The TRP is great. While it can be tough to achieve participation among employees who have staggered work schedules and end their shifts after transit stops operating for the night, we persevere by encouraging carpool, biking, walking and compressed work weeks.”

The tactics that Ms. Naegle and her sites employ are working – in April of this year, three sites achieved a 60% target for single-occupant vehicle (SOV) use. We congratulate and appreciate the efforts put forth by all Applebee’s locations!

Spotlight

Organizations in the Travel Reduction Program

(TRP) with more than one site, must submit a

Multi-Site Form, along with the TRP Annual Plan

each year. It provides a summary of all incentives

offered across the sites.

CLEAN AIR CAMPAIGN AWARDS AND LUNCHEON The 29th Annual Clean Air Campaign Awards and Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, November 1 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa to honor individuals and organizations who have made a positive impact

on our Valley’s air quality and traffic congestion.

TCs are encouraged to enter the category of People’s Choice Most Creative Bulletin Board by Wednesday, August 17 by 5:00 p.m. and to nominate themselves and/or employer for other categories by Wednesday, August 24 by 5:00 p.m. For details, click here.

To attend the luncheon and presentation of awards, register and purchase tickets by September 30 (advanced cost is $35 for single; $325 for a table of 10) or after September 30 (regular cost is $45 for single; $425 for a table of 10). The deadline is Wednesday, October 19.

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The Blue Sky View newsletter is a publication of Valley Metro.

ShareTheRide.com602.262.RIDE (7433)

INTRO TO TRP CLASSES IN-PERSON AND ONLINEValley Metro offers a free quarterly interactive workshop for new transportation coordinators (TCs) in downtown Phoenix or anytime online. The class is designed to provide an overview of the TRP. For details and to register, click here. Once completed, other courses may be taken.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TRP EMPLOYERS WHO REACHED 60% TARGETValley Metro and the Maricopa County TRP would like to congratulate and recognize the TRP employers who have recently met or exceeded their drive-alone rate and/or miles traveled goals at one or more worksites. Click here for a list of the TRP employers who achieved the 60% drive-alone target.

BUY YOUR TRANSIT PASS BEFORE YOU BOARD AND SAVESave time and money when you buy your pass before boarding the bus or light rail. There are more than 800 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.

TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR (TC) WEBINARSTC webinars provide a great channel to learn about events at Valley Metro and the TRP. We encourage you to attend, ask questions and share the recorded version with employees who may have an interest. For a schedule of TC webinars, click here.

valleymetro.org

facebook.com/valleymetro

@valleymetro.org

WORLD CARFREE DAY – SEPTEMBER 22World Carfree Day is held on or around September 22 every year and provides an opportunity to show how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without as many cars.

Also, with hot temperatures, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet and encourage public transit, bicycling, walking, carpooling, vanpooling and telework, instead of driving alone to work.

Employees and driving-age students can participate in a one-day contest at ShareTheRide, where you can also find a commute partner, track trips, calculate savings and enter to win rewards! The prize for the World Carfree Day contest is a gift card to Sprouts for $50!

OCTOBER TRANSIT SERVICE CHANGES Valley Metro service changes occur twice each year to provide a transit system that supports Valley communities, businesses and residents.

Public meetings were held and comments were accepted from April 18 - May 20 for transit service changes that will take effect on October 24, 2016. View proposed service changes here.

There are many online tools to keep you updated on routes and schedules, such as the Ridekick® app, Trip Planner and NextRide.