It was a year ago in January that the CommuteSmart.info web site launched, giving Southern Californians a new way to find information on alternatives to driving alone. In that time, the site has received literally millions Feb. 14 is Valentine's of hits, and has...Full story Day—carpool with someone you love

Feb. 26-March 4—Telecommuter Appreciation Week Tired of fumbling for coins? Digging around for which pass you need? Buying passes every month? Now, it's easier than ever to take transit. Depending on where More events you travel, you can find a transit pass that’s convenient...and sometimes even cheaper. Full story

Put a rideshare twist on your favorite holidays for February and March. Full story

• Governor proposes multi-billion dollar transit program • Free video/dvd shows effects of smog bus service—transit that uses • Metro Gold Line limited stop service begins Feb. 13 technology to move riders There’s still time to renew your Inland Empire Rideshare 25% faster. Full story • Plus Rewards CommuteSmart News wishes a happy retirement to • Marilyn Williams

Get news geared to commuters that you can forward to employees or incorporate into your own rideshare newsletter Getting the Word Out

How do people hear about CommuteSmart.info?

•Radio ads. The web site started off with a bang, thanks to the fact that the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee's million-dollar "Pick a Day" radio campaign gave the web site a plug on ads starting in January 2005 and continuing throughout much of the year.

•Contests. During Rideshare Week in October, commuters logged on to the web site for a chance to win It was a year ago in January that the CommuteSmart.info web site prizes, including lunch with launched, giving Southern Californians a new way to find information on their favorite on-air traffic alternatives to driving alone. In that time, the site has received more than 10 reporters. million hits—from commuters checking traffic conditions on their usual route to those hoping to stop driving alone and find a carpool partner or bus •Speaking of traffic itinerary. reporters...They often On average, nearly 600 people every day have visited the web site—that mention number jumping to a whopping 1,000-plus visitors when gas prices spiked. CommuteSmart.info in their "There’s nothing like paying too much at the pumps to inspire people to find traffic reports. a new way to get to work," says Michelle Kirkhoff, director of air quality/mobility programs for San Bernardino Associated Governments, which •The work site. Many runs the web site along with Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority, employers forward the Riverside County Transportation Commission and Ventura County CommuteSmart News e- Transportation Commission. "Many people aren't sure how they want to get to newsletter for employees, a work—they just know they’re tired of traffic. The CommuteSmart.info web service of site brings together all the options so people can often discover ways to get to CommuteSmart.info work they didn’t even know they had." •Word of mouth. Good news What's the best way to get around traffic? travels fast, and with any luck – if enough people find According to an analysis of the web site, most visitors check out the real- carpool partners, vanpools time traffic information. With a click of the mouse, they can find out which and transit help on line – freeways are busy, which are free-flowing, as well as any SigAlerts or maybe traffic will go just as incidents. fast The site offers more than just a link to traffic conditions, however. Typical visitors to the web site show 48 "hits" – meaning that they click on dozens of pages to get a variety of help and information. The second most popular service: the "My commute" section, which is where commuters can find how to get carpool/vanpool matches and instant bus/rail routing. Other popular sections of the web site include the Commute Cost Calculator, information on rideshare rebates and incentives and vanpool leasing. In addition to help for commuters, the web site provides tips and advice for employer-run rideshare programs. Tired of fumbling for coins? Digging around for which pass you need when you transfer between lines? Buying passes every month? Now it’s easier than ever to take transit. Depending on where you travel, you can find a transit pass that’s more convenient...and sometimes even cheaper.

The Pass: Metro’s EZ transit pass – a monthly pass good for local travel on 21 different public transit carriers Where you can use it: Antelope Valley Transportation Authority (AVTA), , Burbank Local Transit, City of Commerce, Culver CityBus, , Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, , LADOT (DASH and Commuter Express), , Metro Bus and Metro Rail, , Monterey Park Spirit Bus, Norwalk Transit, Pasadena Arts Shuttle, Santa Clarita Transit, Santa Fe Springs MetroExpress, Santa Monica , South Pasadena Gold Link, and Torrance MAX Cost: $58 How to get it: Buy it anywhere Metro passes are sold, including on-line at metro.net

The Pass: Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) E-Pass – an annual bus pass program that lets companies offer employees low-cost, year-round bus passes. How it works: The card uses swipe technology, charging employees a discounted per-ride fee of 75 cents per trip (vs. $1.25) up to a maximum of $45 a month – the price of a regular OCTA monthly pass – regardless of how many times the pass is used How to get it: Call your OCTA representative at 714.560.5358

The Pass: Go Ventura Card – prepaid transit card that allows you to make smooth transfers from one bus to another throughout Ventura County How it works: Simply board the bus and tap your card on the reader device – the fare amount will be automatically deducted from your card Cost: Like a gift card, you can choose the amount of money you want on your Go Ventura card – and if the card is lost or stolen, a replacement card can be issued for just $5 (and it can also be used as a monthly pass for even greater savings) How to get it: Call the Ventura County Dial-a-Route center at 1.800.438.1112

• Governor proposes multi-billion dollar transit program Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last month proposed a plan for that includes $107 billion total investment in transportation infrastructure over the next decade. The plan—which aims to ease expected traffic from an estimated 30% jump in population—would build 1,200 miles of new highway and carpool lanes and add 600 miles of mass transit. For more information, go to governor.ca.gov

• Free video/dvd shows effects of smog A great resource for your next rideshare meeting or event: “Health Effects of Smog,” a film offered free by the California Air Resources Board. Your employees can learn where smog comes from, how it’s formed, as well as how lowering smog levels can benefit all of us. Available in VHS and DVD formats, and English/Spanish. Call 916.322.2990 or go to arb.ca.gov

• Metro Gold Line limited stop service begins Feb. 13 To improve travel time for commuters during peak operating hours, Metro Gold Line will offer special express trains starting Feb. 13. The Gold Line—which connects with the Red Line at Union Station and runs northeast to Pasadena—will earmark two of its trains between 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. to stop only at the following stations: Union Station/, Highland Park/Los Angeles, Mission/South Pasadena, Del Mar/Pasadena and Sierra Madre/Pasadena. Limited Stop trains run on the hour and half hour; local trains will continue to run every 15 minutes. For details and schedule information, call 1.800.COMMUTE or go to metro.net

•There’s still time to renew your Inland Empire Rideshare Plus Rewards Although most members renewed with Inland Empire’s Rideshare Plus Rewards last October—already receiving their 2006 membership cards and Merchant Discount Catalogue—you can still renew if you haven’t yet. 2006 Rideshare Plus benefits include discounts at over 450 restaurants and entertainment and service venues as well as exclusive promotions and prize drawings. Renewal notices were sent to employer ETCs at the end of January, or you can call 1.866.IECS4HELP.

•CommuteSmart News wishes a happy retirement to Marilyn Williams Marilyn Williams, director of regional programs and public affairs for the Riverside County Transportation Commission, retired last month after 24 years in the public sector. In addition to helping launch the CommuteSmart.info regional web site, Williams’s efforts led to RCTC’s Commuter Assistance Program that has been emulated by many other agencies. She will be retiring to her home in Upland, and we send our best wishes as well as our thanks for her many accomplishments over the past years. Put a rideshare twist on your favorite holidays for February and March

Groundhog Day. If a groundhog sees his shadow Feb. 2, there will be six more weeks of winter. Since there’s not much winter in Southern California, why not change it to Roadhog Day? Employees who rideshare that day could qualify for a drawing in which they receive a small reward for six weeks—such as candy each day, an extra 15 minute break, or the best seat at the weekly staff meeting.

Super Bowl “Car”Pool. Super Bowl Sunday is Feb. 5. Here’s a contest that puts a twist on the usual Super Bowl pool. To set up a "car"pool game for your employees

■ On a piece of paper or poster board, make a grid with 100 squares 10 across and 10 down. Label the top of the grid with the name of one of the Super Bowl teams and the left side with the other. ■ During the week prior to the Super Bowl, let employees fill in their name on any of the grids for each day they rideshare. Most “betting” pools set of limit of one name per square, but as long as you have enough prizes, employees can double-up on spaces once all are filled. ■ After the weeks's end—but before Super Bowl Sunday—label each square along the top and down the side from 0 to 9 in random order. ■ Now be sure to keep track of the scores during the game! Select a winner for each quarter. To do this, note the score, then consult the grid to find the square where two score’s numbers meet. (If the score is higher than nine, use the second digit.) ■ Prizes can include candy, t-shirts, privileges or perks.

Valentine’s Day. Hand out Valentine's Day candy to staffers along with a note that says, “(Name of your company) is 'sweet' on ridesharing." Or give away boxes of heart- shaped cinnamon candies the message that you’re "red hot" for ridesharing.

President’s Day Essay. For President’s Day, Feb. 20, use an all-staff email to challenge employees to submit a brief essay (25 words or less, unless you really like to read) describing which president throughout history they'd most like to carpool with, and why. The perfect prize: a picture of a president on a crisp bill. Post or email thebest entries.

St. Patty’s Pool. If your employees like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day after work with a few green beers or Irish coffees, encourage them to choose a designated driver and carpool home.

Spring Cleaning. March 20 is the first day of spring. Celebrate the season with a free car wash for carpoolers and vanpoolers. Hire some local students who’d like to make a few dollars, and set up a car wash in your parking lot. Poolers can get their cars washed as they arrive or during lunch. An alternative: Hand out coupons for a local car wash.

The Metro Rapid system recently expanded, adding a new line (see inset box, Metro Rapid Line 757 Now right) as well as the first of what will be 200 sleek 60-foot Metro liner buses on Serving Western the road. Since its inception in June, 2000, Metro Rapid buses have continued to grow in Avenue popularity, thanks to several features that cut passenger travel time an average of 25% over local service. Metro recently launched its newest Most notably, these buses use an innovative transit signal priority system that Metro Rapid service: Line 757, allows them to stop at red lights less often. The system works like this: loop which spans 13 miles along Western detectors embedded in the pavement along the route determine the bus’s speed. Avenue in Los Angeles, connecting Depending on how close it is to an intersection, it will extend green signal time up with two Metro Rail and several to 10 seconds or activate a green signal up to 10 seconds sooner—allowing the bus other Metro Rapid Lines. to breeze through the light rather than waiting. The new Metro Rapid Line 757 Metro Rapid buses also reduce travel time by scheduling fewer stops than local connects to both branches of the bus service (every 0.8 miles vs. 0.2 miles). Metro Red Line subway beginning at Hollywood/Western. It then travels Roomier new buses transport more riders south on Western Avenue and And now serving Metro Rapid customers in some areas: sleek new Metro Liner connects o the Wilshire/Western buses. These buses—first introduced on the San Fernando Valley’s Metro Orange Metro Red Line Station. As it Line—can carry 45% more passengers than a regular bus. Referred to as travels south and ultimately “articulated” buses because they’re built with an articulate in the center, they’re connects with the Crenshaw Metro bigger yet still offer a smooth ride because they can “bend” as they negotiate Green Line Station, the line curves and corners. conveniently intersects several “The Metro Liner will provide passengers with rail-like service in an attractive, other Metro Rapid Lines. Buses aerodynamically designed vehicle that’s far from the bread-box design of the operate approximately every nine typical transit bus,” says Roger Snoble, Metro chief executive officer. minutes during peak periods, and The first of the Metro Liner buses to serve Metro Rapid are on the Western every 12 minutes during off-peak Avenue and Vermont Avenue lines. In all, 200 will be on the road by mid-year. times. Metro Rapid now boasts 14 lines that generate total average weekday boardings of 140,000. It serves portions of the following areas: • West Hollywood -Vernon via La Cienega Bl & Vernon Ave • Redondo Beach - Hollywood via Crenshaw Bl • Inglewood -Bell Gardens via Florence Ave • Downtown LA - Beverly Hills via Beverly Bl • West Los Angeles - Hollywood via Fairfax Ave & Hollywood Bl • Commerce - Santa Monica via Whittier Bl & Wilshire Bl • South Bay Galleria - Downtown L.A. via Hawthorne Bl, Crenshaw Bl • South Broadway • Ventura Bl • Cypress Park - Lynwood via Soto St & Long Beach Bl • Athens - Hollywood via Vermont Ave • Hollywood - Hawthorne via Western Ave • Van Nuys Bl • Hollywood - Glendale - Pasadena For more information on Metro Rapid or to download a timetable, visit www.metro.net or call 1.800.COMMUTE. COMMUTE SMART NEWS Editor/Writer: Jill Smolinski Art Director: Harlan West

EVENTS NETWORK MEETINGS For subscription information or to Ventura County Transportation Coachella Valley ETC Network meets change your COMMUTE SMART Commission will hold a public hearing to bi-annually; call 1.866.IECS4HELP. NEWS e-mail address, contact your gather ideas on how transit can better Downtown Los Angeles Network representative at the rideshare office nearest you. serve the community on Feb. 6, 1:30 – meets quarterly; call 213.922.5669. 3:30 p.m. at Camarillo City Hall, 601 Glendale TMA meets regularly; call 818- Metro Commute Services Carmen Drive. Comments also can be 543-7641. One Gateway Plaza submitted at goventura.org, e-mailed to Orange County Network meets MS 99-19-05 [email protected] or faxed to quarterly; call 714.560.5588 Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952 Business: 213.922.2811 805.642.4860 (before Feb. 13). or email [email protected]. Pasadena TMA meets Feb. 14; call OCTA’s Commuter Connection John Miranda at 818.354.7433. 550 S. Main St., Riverside County ETC Network meets Orange, CA 92868 tri-annually; call 1.866.IECS4HELP. Mailing address: PO Box 14184 San Bernardino County ETC Network Orange, CA 92863 meets tri-annually; call Business: 714.560.5588 1.866.IECS4HELP. Santa Monica ETC Network meets Ventura County Transportation regularly; call 310.458.8956. Commission South Bay/Westside TMA meets 950 County Square Dr., Ste. 101, Ventura, CA 93003 monthly, contact Christina Gallegos at Business: 805.642.1591, ext. 119 Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day—carpool with 310.940.2106, email someone you love [email protected] Inland Empire Torrance Transportation Network Commuter Services Feb. 26- March 4—it’s Telecommuter meets regularly; call Kim Fuentes at Office location: Appreciation Week, sponsored by the 310.784.7902. 7355 Magnolia Ave. American Telecommuting Association, Riverside, CA 92504 Warner Center TMO meets monthly; Mailing address: 800.ATA.4YOU, call 818.716.5520. PO Box 51540 knowledgetree.com/ata.html Riverside, CA 92517-2540 Business: 1.866.IECS4HELP TRAINING (1.866.432.7443) Metro Commute Services requires employers to attend a briefing 60 days prior to their AQMD submittal date. The Commuter Infomation next briefing is Feb. 22, 1-3 p.m. For 1.800.COMMUTE (266.6883) more information or to reserve a space, commutesmart.info email [email protected] March 31 is the deadline to submit PHOTO CREDITS:Front Page and South Coast Air Quality nominations for the Rideshare Diamond Faster Pass article: Transit passes Management District (AQMD) offers courtesy of Metro, OCTA and VCTC; Awards, honoring outstanding rideshare one-day ETC training for $57.63. In the News: HOV lane photo, OCTA; programs in Los Angeles and Ventura Upcoming sessions are Feb. 8 in Health Effects of Smog Video: counties; for more information or a arb.ca.gov; Gold Line: Metro, Marilyn Riverside and Feb. 22 and March 8 at nomination form, contact Donna Blanchard Williams photo:RCTC; Spotlight the AQMD offices in Diamond Bar. at [email protected] or Alan Holmes On...All photos courtesy of Metro, Contact Lisa Patterson, Western Ave sidebar: Richard at 805.642.1591, ext. 119 [email protected] Cornubert, Metro photographer HWDS1466-1/06