GWRideConnect Program Funding

Transportation Demand Management Grant Department of Rail & Public Transportation

FY 2011: $355,803 plus 20% local match of $88,951

Total: $444,754

CMAQ funding : $125,000

Total program funding : $569,754

GWRideConnect Program Scope

TDM Agency operated by the GWRC Commission that serves the residents of Planning District 16.

GWRideConnect promotes ridesharing and TDM techniques to assist citizens seeking transportation options to workplaces and other destinations.

Program Goal: to promote, plan and establish transportation alternatives to the single occupant vehicle, improving air quality, reducing congestion & improving quality of life.

GWRideConnect Program Services

Free Matching Program – assists thousands of residents matching them to existing transit and transportation providers

Transportation Options – provide and promote transportation options and solutions to residents

GWRideConnect Website – Provides information on all types of transportation alternatives with links to Bus Companies, VRE and Metro

GWRideConnect Program Services

Vanpool Program - Facilitates the formation of new vanpools and maintains the existing fleet of 392 vanpools

Van Start – Start up financial assistance for qualifying new vanpools in the region funded through CMAQ.

Van Save – Provides financial assistance for vanpools in danger of ceasing operation. Funded through the GWRideConnect program, 17 vans have been saved this year totaling $9,648 (12 to NOVA, 5 to NSWC)

GWRideConnect Program Services

AVANtage Self-Insurance Pool Program –operated by GWRideConnect and the Division of Risk Management for all vanpools in the State. Vanpool operators self-insure themselves with premiums paid into the pool.

This program saves vanpool operators thousands of dollars per year and provides up to $14-million more liability protection than previous insurance programs.

Currently 180 vanpools are participating in the program, most from GWRC.

GWRideConnect Program Services

National Transit Database Vanpool Incentive Program – a multi-regional program investigating the feasibility of vanpool reporting transit data to the NTD.

Reporting vanpool ridership data would generate additional 5307 funds for vanpool incentive programs and for the region

Program increases the number of vanpools in the region and reduces the number of cars

Each reporting van has the earning potential of $10,930 per year

GWRideConnect Program Services

Carpool Program – Facilitate the formation of formal carpools, provide assistance and facilitate the continuation of instant carpooling.

Commuter Buses / Local Transit – Assist and promote commuter buses in the region and continue to support and promote FRED Transit

VRE / METRO – Assist and promote the VRE and the Metro system. Help educate residents on how to utilize these systems and use as a resource instead of driving alone.

GWRideConnect Program Services

Commuter Parking Lots – promote and monitor existing commuter lots and help plan for new commuter lots in the region.

GWRideBoard – located on the GwRideConnect Website, the GWRideBoard is a place to post rides that are needed locally and is also a place to look for a rider going your way.

Telework – Information on Telework, Telework!Va and will soon have information on the new Telework tax credits for businesses anywhere in Virginia

GWRideConnect Program Services

Employer Outreach – Work with employers in region to help establish TDM techniques at their worksites and assist with established programs

NSWC – largest employer program in region with 49 vanpools removing over 400 vehicles daily.

GEICO, Germanna Community College, Regional Hospitals

Realtor Outreach – Work with realtors in each locality to educate them about the program and provide them with Rideshare packets for new residents

GWRideConnect Program Advertising

Advertising Techniques to promote GWRideConnect

Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer campaigns that use print media and radio advertising in every locality

Print media used throughout year

Highway signs

GWRideConnect Website – Comprehensive informational source for transportation options in the region, averaging 1,500 hits per month

GWRideConnect Program Data FY 10

New applicants 2,342

Applicants assisted 1,167

New vanpools formed 36

Vanpools Assisted 1,295

Applicant surveys 3,196

Vanpool surveys 326

Commuter/FRED Bus dist 1,737

VRE information dist. 1,356

More than 10,000 people received assistance in FY 2010

GWRideConnect Current Data

392 Existing Vanpools:

Transport 4,704 persons daily / 1,176,000 annually

Reduce 7,769 work trips daily / 1,942,250 annually

Reduce 466,124 vehicle miles traveled daily

Reduce 116,531,000 vehicle miles traveled annually

Saves 23,306 gallons of gasoline daily

Saves 5,826,000 gallons of gasoline annually

GWRideConnect Current Data

All Services (Vanpools, Carpools and Buses):

Transport 5,844 persons daily / 1,461,000 annually

Reduce 9,789 work trips daily / 2,447,250 annually

Reduce 587,324 vehicle miles traveled daily

Reduce 146,831,000 vehicle miles traveled annually

Saves 29,366 gallons of gasoline daily

Saves 7,341,500 gallons of gasoline annually