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May 2008
In this issue:
Star Commuters at Children's Hospital
How many of Children's Hospital employees would you guess use alternative transportation to commute to work every day?
More than two thirds use vanpools, carpools, buses, bikes, motorcycles and walk to get to any of Children's campuses. Some employees also telecommute.
Dr. Tom Hansen, CEO, and fellow vanpooler Jane Driscoll, director of Nephrology, are doing their part to reduce traffic congestion at the hospital.
Even CEO Dr. Thomas Hansen is leading by example. Four out of five days a week, he rides in a Metro vanpool, takes a Metro bus, uses a Zipcar or relies on his own two feet instead of driving his car.
"Everyone has to play a part in the reduction of traffic. I'm not exempt from contributing to the solutions," he says. "The vanpool is great! I am able to catch up with other colleagues while we ride to work. It's a great way to commute, and it takes you right to the front door."
Dr. Hansen notes several benefits he has experienced through use of alternative transportation: "I get more exercise from walking, I have more time to read, I don't have to deal with the stress of driving so I'm more relaxed when I get to work and when I get home in the evenings, and taking shuttles allows me to meet a lot of employees, which I really enjoy."
In December 2007, Children's launched its Star Commuter Program to recognize the efforts of employees who avoid commuting by single occupancy vehicle. Each month, Children's honors an employee who has used alternative transit to get to work by featuring them in an internal publication and presenting them with a gift. Through these kinds of efforts, Children's has been successful in moving employees out of their own cars and into alternatives that help reduce the amount of traffic on our streets.
"Looking at Children's anticipated growth, we have to begin mitigating traffic issues now, particularly reducing trips to the main hospital campus," says Dr. Hansen. "If we double in size, we cannot double our traffic. Creating parking is very expensive, and that's not where we want our money to go. I'm very proud that Children's is a regional leader in transportation, and we're aiming to be even better."
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Fill It Up Again! - Have You Applied?
Have you applied for your Fill It Up Again! reward yet? If you became a new rider, driver, the primary bookkeeper (vanpool only) or have recruited new participants since January 1, 2008, then you could be eligible for a $50 MasterCard gift card.
Important Reminders:
- A Commuter Van Program Application and Agreement must be on file at the Metro Rideshare office to be eligible for the incentive,
- You must choose your role - new rider, driver or primary bookkeeper, then register at the Fill It Up Again! web site.
- Recruiting is a two step process. Without the first step being completed recruiters cannot be issued a reward.
- Ask your new rider to apply for their new rider reward and list you as their recruiter
- Apply for your recruiter reward.
Register at the Fill It Up Again! website. [external link] For questions or assistance call 206-625-4500 or 1-800-427-8249.
Don't get left behind! Fill It Up Again! ends December 31, 2008.
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Success with RideshareOnline.com!
You've seen the stickers on your vanpool. You've seen the signs on the highways. You've heard us talk about its benefits and ease. And, an average of 2,000 people register for it each month.
But Does RideshareOnline.com Work?
Since May 2006, RideshareOnline.com (RSO) has sent out surveys to new registrants to determine the impact that RSO has on people switching from a drive alone commute to a carpool or vanpool.
Registrants are sent three surveys over a period of 90 days asking them commute questions including: "Last week, what type of transportation did you use each day to commute TO your usual work location?". Click on the icon to the right to see the full size chart.
Lost: My Single Occupant Vehicle
During the survey period of 2007, the percentage of respondents who drove alone at least once per week dropped 16% from when they registered for RSO to the final survey 90-days later. In addition, those who continued to drive alone did so less frequently. The average respondent drove alone 4.25 days per week prior to signing up for RSO. 90-days later, this frequency dropped to 3.5 days a week - almost a full day less of driving alone!
Respondents who indicated that they carpooled or vanpooled at least once per week increased 22% during the survey cycle. Prior to registering with RSO, 29% of respondents indicated that they carpooled or vanpooled at least once per week. 90-days later, this increases to 51% - over half of the respondents!
Found: Vanpool Through RideshareOnline.com
Respondents who joined a vanpool indicated that they had great success in using RideshareOnline.com to find their vanpool. While the majority of new vanpoolers will still find their vanpool from a current vanpooler, 40% of the survey respondents who said they vanpool indicated that they found their vanpool through RSO. Click on the icon above left to see the full size chart.
Carpoolers have found success through RSO as well. At the 90-day survey, 25% of the respondents who carpool indicated that they found their partner through RSO.
We're proud that RideshareOnline.com continues to be a key tool in reducing congestion in the Puget Sound and throughout Washington. As RideshareOnline.com expands into Idaho and Oregon, we look forward to helping commuters throughout the Pacific Northwest save money, gas and time as they share a ride to work.
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Bonjour, Paris!!
The annual Spring Wheel Options promotion was tres magnifique! The Grand Prize for one lucky commuter was a trip to Paris! Almost 31,000 Washington commuters participated by ridesharing and filling out the entry form. To find out if you won one of the many prizes, please go to the Wheel Options website. [external link]
Included in the Washington State Rideshare Organization's Wheel Options campaign was a RideshareOnline.com promotion. This year we had over 3,000 new RideshareOnline.com registrations and over 2,500 updated registrations. Oooo, lala!! An increase over last years participation! These new registrations not only help build up the database, but help increase ridership in vanpools.
By registering for Wheel Options AND being in RideshareOnline.com, Barbara Schatz an employee at Pierce Transit, is the winner of a Special Prize - a TV package that includes a flat screen TV, DVD player and a one-year's subscription to Netflix. Barbara has been carpooling for the last 10 years.
In addition to the Special Prize, we also had a weekly drawing for new registrants to RideshareOnline.com for two-$100 gift cards. To see the list of winners, please go to RideshareOnline.com and click on Wheel Options Prize Winners.
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VanShare Program Change Equals More Riders
On January 1, 2008 the VanShare Program implemented a change in its minimum ridership level. The required number of enrolled riders to start and operate a vanshare group changed from three to five. By requiring 5 riders, the VanShare Program now has the same rider-operating rule as the VanPool Program. The change affected 47 of the 179 vanshare groups but after two months of rider recruitment efforts only nine groups were unable to find riders. With help and assistance from our Customer Service Specialists, 38 groups were successful in recruiting a total of 93 riders. This more than offset the 28 riders lost to the program when nine groups folded.
While the transition from thee to five riders resulted in a small loss in the number of vanshare groups, the total number of rider participation increased. The VanShare Program has evolved from a small demonstration program to a fully integrated rideshare product joining the family of rideshare services offered by King County.
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New Participant Application Forms
Great News! We've made the paperwork for new participants much easier to complete! The new Commuter Van Program Application and Agreement replaces all the following forms:
- VanPool Participant Agreement
- VanPool Driver Application
- VanPool Bookkeeper Application
- VanShare Participant Agreement
- VanShare Driver Application
When completing the new form, please be sure to check the box indicating which program you are joining, VanPool or VanShare. Then check if you are applying to be a rider, driver and/or bookkeeper (VanPool only). If you are in an existing group, please make sure to note the van number - HOV or GIN.
Everyone must complete Section 1 and Section 3 on the second page. Drivers also must complete Section 2. Always keep a copy of the Terms and Conditions page as your reference to the King County Commuter Van Program policies and rules.
You can find this and many other program resources on Metro Online. If you do not have access to the web or have questions, please contact your Rideshare Services Representative or call 206 625-4500.
Please recycle any old forms you may have. We will no longer accept the old forms after May 31st.
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I-405 and I-90 Closures
Vanpools traveling on I-90 or I-405 in south Bellevue should plan ahead for weeknight closures at the beginning of May. Near the I-405 interchange crews will close eastbound and westbound I-90 each for several nights during a two-week period to set bridge girders for a new bridge over I-90. For the safety of drivers, crews expect to close lanes on I-405 and several ramps in the area as needed.
The Wilburton tunnel is coming down. I-405 southbound is closing between SE 8th Avenue and I-90 for three weekends between August 8th and 25th. The lanes will be closed between 11:00 PM on Friday and 5:00 AM on Monday morning. Stay tuned for more details as work gets closer by checking I-405 South Bellevue Widening Project. [external link]
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HOT Lanes Open on SR 167
On May 3, 2008, HOT lanes (high occupancy toll lanes) became a new option for solo drivers on SR 167. By paying an electronic toll, they can use the carpool lane when driving alone.
A single HOT lane will run in each direction of SR 167 for nine miles between Renton and Auburn. The highway's two general purpose lanes in each direction remain toll free and open to all.
Vanpools ride free
Carpools of two people or more, vanpools, transit and motorcycles use HOT lanes toll-free just like an HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane, and they do not need a transponder. Vanpools who travel on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and SR-167 are encouraged to contact Chris Simmons at 360-705-7917 to learn about transponder options to avoid being charged on SR-167.
A more efficient SR 167
When there is extra space in the HOT lane, solo drivers can pay an electronic toll using a Good To Go! [external link] transponder for a faster, more reliable trip. Adding just enough additional vehicles to the HOT lane will make the carpool lane more efficient and ease congestion in all the lanes.
Toll rates increase and decrease with the level of congestion to ensure that traffic in the HOT lane always flows freely and carpools enjoy the same fast and reliable trip they have in HOV lanes.
SR 167 drivers need to know:
- No Double-Crossing. The HOT lane is separated from the general-purpose lanes by a double white line. It is illegal to cross the double white line. Access zones are marked by a single dashed line.
- Watch the Signs. A sign announces a HOT lane access zone approaching a half mile before each dashed-line entrance point. Another electronic sign indicates the current toll price at the beginning of each access zone.
- Pilot Project. HOT lanes on SR 167 is a four-year pilot project. WSDOT will be monitoring, evaluating and adjusting the system.
For more information about the HOT lanes, visit the WSDOT website. [external link]
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Cell Phone Law Takes Effect
Washington State Text-Messaging Ban:
Washington State has two cell-phone related driving laws going into effect in 2008. The first one is EHB 1214 and took effect on January 1, 2008. This law bans text messaging and makes it a traffic infraction, this is not a hands-free ordinance, but a complete ban on text messaging.
Like many of the other driving laws across the United States there are exceptions during emergency situations or for on-duty public safety personnel. This is a secondary enforcement law, which means that you will only receive a ticket if you have been pulled over for another driving violation. In addition, like the hands-free violation, this infraction is not placed on your driving record or reportable to employers or insurance companies.
Washington State Hands-Free Driving Law:
The other new Washington State driving law that takes effect in 2008 is the hands-free law ESSB 5037. This new hands-free cell-phone law prohibits the use of a wireless device such as a cell-phone being held to your ear while you are driving. Unlike the text messaging ban, you are allowed to use your cell-phone if the communication is made using a hands-free device such as a bluetooth headset or wired headset.
You can use your cell-phone without a hands-free device if it is an emergency situation or if you are reporting illegal activity. ESSB 5037 does not apply to a person with a hearing aid. Like the text messaging ban above, the Washington State hands-free driving law is a secondary enforcement law. You will only receive a ticket for this if you are pulled over for the usual type of traffic violation such as speeding or running a stop sign. This violation will not go on your driving record and employers and insurance companies will receive no information regarding the violation.
Summary - Hands-Free & Text Messaging Ban
- EHB 1214: Bans driving while text-messaging, starting in January 2008.
- ESSB 5037: Bans driving while using a handheld cell phone without a hands-free device, starting in July 2008.
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