Home Page	Table of Contents 1. Census Analysis Identifies Commuting Trends. 2. Survey of Employers Indicates Continuing Committment to Commute Programs 3. Ciba Pharmaceuticals Helps Employees Weather Changes with Health Fair 4. MetroPool offers Customer-Oriented Mobility to Yonkers Residents. 5. Rockland County Proposes Transportation Action Plan. 6. Rider Survey Shows "PART"-icularly High Satisfaction With Service. 7. Celebrity Voice Urges Commuters to Ride Together. Commuter Connections is published quarterly by MetroPool, Inc. with the support of federal and state funding from the Connecticut and New York Departments of Transportation. The views expressed in Commuter Connections are not necessarily those of MetroPool, Inc's funders, Board Members, nor supporting agencies or organizations.
Home Page Back to Top	Census Analysis Identifies Commuting Trends A growing economy, record private vehicle growth, and accelerated suburbanization of jobs led to a growth in single occupant vehicle commuting between 1980 and 1990 according to Commuting in America II, an analysis of nationwide commuting trends released in August. The report, based primarily on 1990 census data, was sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and eighteen other organizations and was written by transportation consultant Alan Pisarski. The report is a follow-up of a similar analysis of 1980 census data. The share of all commute trips made in a single occupant vehicle increased from 64.4% to 73.2% between 1980 and 1990, while the share of trips made in a carpool went from 19.7% to 13.4%. Transit share went from 6.2% to 5.1%. The report suggested several reasons to explain the decline in carpooling, including: Rising incomes, which make vehicles more accessible. Declining operating costs, which encourages driving alone. The dispersal of employers and residences, making it more difficult for residents to match up with other commuters. The hesitancy to carpool with strangers -- two persons from the same household make up more than 60% of all two-person carpools. Working at home was the only category besides single occupant vehicle that had increased in share since 1980, showing a 50% increase (2.2 million in 1980 to 3.4 million in 1990). Because the census focused on only one day of travel, variations in a person's commute mode (for example, telecommuting one or two days per week) was not captured. The report offered other observations regarding the state of commuting in America, including: More than 76% of all commuters work within their county of residence. The dominant commuting flow pattern is suburb to suburb. Driving alone is most dominant among commuters who travel 15-30 minutes; the share declines for commutes longer than 30 minutes. The report noted that pressures of time have a strong influence on an individual's choice of commute mode. Nearly three quarters of commuting households have two or more workers, making it less likely that individuals will live near their place of work. There is also an increased tendency for commuters to combine other trips with their commute, including dropping children off at either child care or school, shopping, or running other household errands. The trends identified in the report point to several strategies that might improve the marketing of commute alternatives. Targeted marketing to commuters with trips longer than 30 minutes, promotion of part-time (even one day a week) carpooling and transit use, emphasis on time savings via train vs. driving in traffic, and home-based promotion to encourage members of the same household to carpool together are all strategies that might be used to encourage commuters to consider alternatives to driving alone.
Home Page Back to Top	Survey of Employers Indicates Continuing Committment to Commute Programs In late spring, MetroPool conducted a telephone survey to learn about transportation coordinators' current perceptions of commute programs at their worksites and gain ideas on how MetroPool can best facilitate the coordinators' role. Crystal Research conducted the survey for MetroPool. Two hundred telephone interviews of ten minutes each were conducted among transportation coordinators (also known as `employee transportation coordinators,' or ETCs) at area employer sites currently receiving marketing materials and other services from MetroPool. Survey participants were randomly selected from the MetroPool customer database. The list was grouped according to MetroPool's service regions: Greater Bridgeport, Greater Danbury, southwest Fairfield County, Westchester County, and the northern New York service region (Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Ulster counties). A sampling plan was used to ensure accurate representation of each region. Transportation coordinators were asked to suggest ways that MetroPool can help them and to share their ideas on the benefits that their programs provided to their company and employees. The survey also collected basic information about transportation coordinators and their perceptions of their employers'commitment to the program. Although ETCs were surveyed to mirror MetroPool's five service regions, there were no other sampling requirements. The survey included worksites with employees of fewer than 100 to more than 500. More than 70% of the employers surveyed had between 100 and 500 employees; 10% had fewer than 100; 41% had 100-200; 29% had 201-500; and 18% had more than 500 employees at their worksite. Transportation coordinators indicated that, overall, their employers express some commitment to promoting commute programs. Two out of five ETCs said that their employers are "extremely or very" committed to promoting commute programs. A third said that their employers are at least somewhat committed to the program; 10 % of those surveyed felt that their employers are not at all committed. Nearly all of the transportation coordinators surveyed hold this position part-time; just 2.5% (five total) worked full time on their site's commute program. The majority (69%) have been transportation coordinators for more than two years. Just over half estimated that they devote between one and five hours a week on employee commute activities. A third estimated that they spend about an hour or less on their programs each week. Very few (14%) indicated they spend more than five hours a week. The most widely perceived benefit gained by employees from commute programs was enhanced corporate citizenship, with 35.1% of transportation coordinators reporting this benefit. Other employers benefits reported in the survey included: Increased parking for visitors (25.4%) More respect from employees (25.4%) Improved employee morale (25.1%) Decreases in employee tardiness/absenteeism (23.3 %) Extended hours of service to customers (16.0%) Savings in buying/leasing parking spaces (15.7%) Improved employee recruitment/retention (15.3%) Improved employee productivity (14.7%) Savings in office space from telecommuting (9.5%) Of the transportation coordinators who reported that their companies were extremely or very committed to the commute programs, "enhanced corporate citizenship" was reported as a benefit definitely gained by nearly half of the employers. The "committed" group believed that the program also had a very positive effect on the corporate environment. Transportation coordinators were also asked to give their opinions on the benefits that their employees gained from their on-site commute programs. In total, respondents reported that their employees "definitely gained" the following benefits: Saving wear and tear on car (59.6%) Saving money (45.9%) Less commuting stress (40.8%) Feeling they have made a difference in helping environment/traffic (38.7%) Flexible work schedules (28.6%) Improved employee morale (18.1%) Happier working environment (17.2%) Respondents also indicated that carpooling creates opportunities for employees to communicate with each other, both for social benefits and professional discussions. A few respondents cited that employee commute program promotion increases awareness of environmental issues and encourages camaraderie among fellow commuters. Most transportation coordinators felt that the themes of saving money and the environment could be effective in helping to convince employees to stop driving alone to work. The percentage of respondents who believed that a specific message would be very or somewhat effective was as follows: Saving money (84.4%) Environmental issues (83.3%) Congestion issues (70.3%) Reducing stress (65.0%) Personal safety (55.8%) More free time (49.0%) The survey also asked the transportation coordinators to rate the commute services that are supported by the state Department of Transportation and provided by MetroPool. Respondents indicated that the most beneficial services are marketing materials and assistance in developing employee commute programs. 40% rated these two services as extremely or very important. Employee survey processing (provided in Connecticut) and Guaranteed Ride Home programs are also perceived as important. When asked to evaluate whether they felt MetroPool's marketing materials affected employees' attitudes toward driving alone to work, 79% felt that the materials were at least somewhat effective in helping to change employees' attitudes. One transportation coordinator noted that "no one message or piece of information is very effective in changing people's attitudes about driving alone, but a lot of messages that are somewhat effective, put together, are very effective." When asked what else MetroPool might do to facilitate their role based on their own personal experience, transportation coordinators noted that special promotions, public outreach, and regular updates on what other companies are doing would be helpful. Contests, such as MetroPool's Earth Day Contest held just before the survey was conducted, were also cited as important to keep employees interested in their programs. Based on the results of the survey, MetroPool is planning to do the following: Seek to identify employers in the various service areas by level of commitment, number of employees, and type of organization. Each of these different identifiers affects how transportation coordinators execute and implement their programs. Provide transportation coordinators with more information on highway construction, transit service updates, and other local information on a regular basis. Provide easy to use, stand alone materials, products, and programs, remembering that most ETCs spend only a few hours a month on employee commute programs. Customize materials to reach the different types of employers and employees MetroPool serves, including public vs. private sector employers. MetroPool thanks all the transportation coordinators who took the time to participate in the survey.
Home Page Back to Top	Ciba Pharmaceuticals Helps Employees Weather Changes with Health Fair Conventional wisdom would say that a company can't go through a merger and open a new facility all at once without driving employee stress levels through the roof. Luckily for the 750 employees of Ciba Pharmaceuticals in Suffern, New York, this particular company knows that its people are its most important asset. Ciba Pharmaceuticals recognized the potential for stress, and decided to help its employees prepare for running the rapids of organizational change. "We knew that the merger and new facility would create some stress," said Susan Rutledge, Manager of Communications at Ciba Pharmaceuticals. "So we set out to remind employees that they need to take care of their personal health" as a way to keep those tensions at bay. The result: Ciba Pharmaceuticals' first Health Fair. The event was held August 6-7, 1996 in the company's cafeteria. It ran from 2 to 6 pm on August 6, and from 6 am to 7:30 pm on August 7, giving employees on all three shifts an opportunity to partake of the rich smorgasbord of information. Two dozen booths were set up, offering resources on a broad range of health-related topics, including: healthier commuting through biking and carpooling, good nutrition, massage therapy, blood pressure and cholesterol tips, day care service, organ transplants and blood donation, and warnings on the dangers of smoking and Lyme disease. Exhibitors included: MetroPool; NordicTrack; Weight Watchers; the American Cancer Society; the American Heart Association; the Rockland County Health Department; financial planners, to help employees look at issues like retirement and paying for children's college; local health clubs and gyms, like the YMCA; hiking clubs, which manage recreational trails in the Adirondack Mountains; Mancini Optical, a maker of safety eyeglasses; and Ciba Pharmaceuticals' own Employee Assistance Program. Employees got more than just valuable information. They were invited to collect on the company's pledge of $100 toward the use of a local gym. And, because most employees visited the Health Fair during their breaks, organizers made sure plenty of healthy snacks, such as fruit and fresh popcorn, were on hand. An on-site Weight Watchers program was also initiated. While the event was clearly a success for employees, Ciba Pharmaceuticals benefited from an employer perspective, too. "This was a low cost program to the company," explained Rutledge. "The vendors all came at no cost. Some had raffles and free giveaways. Employees came during their normal break times, so we didn't lose production. We had six people organizing and running the event, and we each put in about six to eight hours." Support was strong at all levels of the company. "Encouragement came from senior management at Division Headquarters in Summit, New Jersey," said Rutledge, "but site management in Suffern also supported the event." The Summit site had its own fair earlier in the summer.The 1996 Health Fair took only about a month to put together. Planning began in July for the August date. As for next year, says Rutledge, "We hope to be able to continue this in the future." By then, the current sources of stress will be history, but Ciba Pharmaceuticals knows that healthy employees make for a healthier company long after the rapids of change have calmed. For more information, contact Susan Rutledge at Ciba Pharmaceuticals (914) 368-6202.
Home Page Back to Top	MetroPool offers Customer-Oriented Mobility to Yonkers Residents Life offers few guarantees. But now, with a quick phone call, residents of a Yonkers Housing Authority complex can get a free taxi ride to and from the nearest transit station -- guaranteed. At the Authority's request, MetroPool launched the convenient new Guaranteed Ride Program with funding from the City of Yonkers. The new service means better access to jobs for residents of the 14-unit housing site on Midland Avenue in Yonkers. The Guaranteed Ride Program replaces a shuttle that had been run by the Authority. The agency is under a court order to provide transportation linking residents of the site to public transit. The Authority found that the shuttle, which it operated for the past several years, drew consistently low ridership. That problem made for an unacceptably high operating cost, given the small number of residents availing themselves of the free service. So the Authority approached MetroPool in search of a practical, creative, and cost-effective alternative. The Guaranteed Ride Program maximizes flexibility for its users, while minimizing the cost to the City. "It's a very innovative way to provide transportation to people without starting a new transit system," said MetroPool's Liz Navarra. Sometimes the simple solutions are the best. And this program is simple for everyone involved: MetroPool gives each resident a start-up kit that includes a Guaranteed Ride Pass, 25 blank vouchers, and a brochure explaining how to contact the taxi company (Classic Ride). The resident can get additional vouchers simply by calling MetroPool. Taxi service is available during the same hours as the old shuttle: Monday-Friday from 7 am to 10:30 pm; Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm; and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Taxis will take residents to either of two transit stops for a flat rate: Yonkers Avenue at Central or Yonkers Avenue at Midland. Simplicity reigns within the funding mechanism, too. Each month, Classic Ride sends copies of the used vouchers to MetroPool with an invoice. MetroPool pays Classic Ride, then bills the City of Yonkers for reimbursement. MetroPool also reports program activity monthly to the Yonkers Housing Authority. The average cost of the Guaranteed Ride Program is less than $500 a month. The on-demand service also utilizes public resources more efficiently, since the City pays only for what the residents use. For more information on the Guaranteed Ride Program, call Liz Navarra at MetroPool at (203) 324-6700.
Home Page Back to Top	Rockland County Proposes Transportation Action Plan Rockland County people are big on driving to work. Regional journey-to-work studies show that the personal vehicle is the mode of choice for most Rocklanders. A whopping 92% of the intra-county work trips are made by car, while those who walk or bike to work within the county account for 5% and transit handles 3%. Now, a major regional council has combined forces with the Rockland County Executive and departments of Planning, Public Transportation and Highways to adopt a Transportation Action Plan for the betterment of those who live and work in the county. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is the region's forum for addressing transportation issues. It is an organization of chief local elected officials and transportation agency leaders who decide how transportation funding is spent within the counties and the New York City metropolitan region. "Public transportation is a key component for socio-economic growth in Rockland County," explained County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef recently. "This Transportation Action Plan encompasses the needs of Rockland County residents, commuters and businesses. Our strategy has been to develop a plan that addresses transportation locally and regionally, identifying improvements to the County's existing transportation systems and new transportation corridors," he added. The Action Plan for Rockland County is the natural evolution of NYMTC's recently adopted regional transportation plan, Critical Issues Critical Choices, A Mobility Plan for the New York Region through the Year 2015. "The plan provides structure to a vision of what Rockland county should be," said Dr. James J. Yarmus, P.E., Rockland County Commissioner of Planning and Public Transportation. "It lays the milestone for the future of transportation and infrastructure and involves the people of the county in the planning process through outreach programs and public forums," he continued. The County Planning Department has already completed fare and marketing studies for TOR (Transport of Rockland) and TRIPS (special bus service for senior citizens and the physically challenged) which will be incorporated into the overall project to coordinate and improve bus services. Some of the other projects listed in the plan include additional park & ride lots, a ferry service, expanded regional bus service, bicycle and pedestrian pathways and commute option programs. Some projects in the plan will be implemented over a period of five years, some within one year. Others may require more analysis or additional time for legal and/or financial reasons. Through three public forums held in June and July, suggestions made by businesses, public officials and residents of the county have been incorporated into NYMTC's recently completed draft of the plan. Studies show that 55% of Rocklanders work right in the county. Of the 13% that commute to Manhattan, 63% drive to work, while 37% go by bus or rail, according to NYMTC data. The council's travel forecast is for commute trips to grow within the county as well as in the Manhattan market. Also interesting is the prediction that Orange to Rockland travel will grow by 79% between now and 2015. Rockland County's location is unique not only in its relation to neighboring counties, but also in that it functions as a corridor connecting New Jersey and the greater New York City area with upstate New York. With job opportunities expanding in all of these areas, a transportation plan that will help to move more people in fewer vehicles will benefit residents and businesses alike. By introducing more attractive alternative travel options, it may even convince many of those drivers that there is another way to get to work. This is why highway improvements, water-borne alternatives and transit options, such as bus, rail, carpools and vanpools, were considered. Convenience and safety issues for these modes as well as for walking and bicycling are integral to the effort. What's next? To finalize the plan, approval by NYMTC will be needed. Discussions with lead agencies are underway toward that approval goal. With the Transportation Action Plan in place, Rockland County will assemble a detailed Transportation Development Plan and ultimately use the data in the preparation of the county's Comprehensive Plan by the end of 1998, the year in which Rockland celebrates its bicentennial.
Home Page Back to Top	Rider Survey Shows "PART"-icularly High Satisfaction With Service A typical rider on the PART Bus System in Putnam County is age 35-50, has been riding the PART system for more than two years, and rides the bus to work in Putnam County on weekdays, according to a recent on-board survey of riders. The survey was sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation to help identify marketing strategies and other opportunities to increase PART ridership. The survey was conducted for the Putnam County Planning Department by Oram Associates. MetroPool coordinated the project for Putnam County. Some 320 "scratch-off card" surveys were distributed to riders on one day in June, 1996; 80% of the surveys were returned. The survey found that nearly 60% of PART riders make two or fewer trips per week (this figure is adjusted to account for the fact that frequent riders are more likely to be riding the bus on the day of the survey than infrequent riders). 24% ride more regularly; 7% ride nearly every day to travel to work; and 5% use it more frequently. More than half of the riders (56%) have been riding PART buses for more than two years, 17% have been riding 1-2 years, and 28% have been riding less than a year. The ridership on the PART system is somewhat dynamic. Nearly one-quarter of all riders have increased the number of trips that they take per week over the last six months; 53% stayed the same, and 14 % decreased the number of trips (9% were new riders). The final destination of 79% of the riders was within Putnam County; 13% were traveling to Westchester, 4% to Dutchess, and 3% to New York City. Just over 9% of riders transfer to Westchester's Bee-Line bus system, and 16% were making a connection to an MTA Metro-North train. About 40% of these passengers were traveling to work, 22% to shopping, 22% were on personal business, and 16% were traveling for recreation, school, or business. More than 74% of riders rated PART's service and performance as "good" (50%) or "excellent" (24%). Even riders who rode infrequently gave PART a high satisfaction rating. "The survey gave us a good look at who our riders are and how they are using the system," said John Pilner, Transportation Planner at the Putnam County Planning Department. "With this information, we can better market our service and develop fare incentives and schedule improvements that meet the travel needs of Putnam County residents, " he said. The survey identified several opportunities that will be further explored by the Planning Department, including the use of frequency discounts (such as ten-ride tickets) to increase use by occasional riders. 77% of riders said that they might buy such a discounted multi-ride ticket. PART has adjusted its existing routes to better serve certain portions of the county. As of October 1, 1996, Routes 3 and 4 were combined into a new Route 4. Route 6 was renamed Route 3. For a copy of the new PART bus map and schedule, call PART at (914) 878-3480.
Home Page Back to Top	Celebrity Voice Urges Commuters to Ride Together A statewide radio campaign featuring the voice of Phil Hartman (of Saturday Night Live and NewsRadio fame) was launched in September by the Connecticut Department of Transportation as part of its ongoing effort to promote carpooling, vanpooling, train and bus. The "pitch man" - style ads sell ridesharing as a way to reduce stress, clean the air, and save up to $3,000 per year in gas, insurance, parking, and wear and tear on your car. Fairfield County commuters are urged to call MetroPool for more information. The radio campaign is being enhanced in Fairfield County with a billboard (without Hartman) on I-95 on the Bridgeport/Fairfield line that reminds commuters that they can save money by riding together. The radio campaign will continue into early October; the billboard will be in place for about six months. The radio ads were created by Cronin & Co., ConnDOT's public relations agency.