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NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY AUTHORITY IMPROVES
MOBILITY FOR MOTORISTS -- AND EMPLOYEES
At 641 miles, the New York State Thruway is the longest toll superhighway system in the United States, crossing New York State to connect Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany and New York City and providing its customers -- the traveling public -- with efficient, effective and safe passage. Through a continual program of road improvements, along with programs such as the EZ-Pass electronic toll collection system, the Thruway Authority works to improve mobility for motorists.
The Authority’s New York Division office focuses on the roadway in the lower Hudson Valley, including the Tappan Zee Bridge which is located on one of the busiest and most heavily traveled corridors in the state. So when the New York Division decided to cross the Tappan Zee and relocate its own offices from Tarrytown to Suffern, Division Director Ramesh Mehta teamed with the Rockland County Department of Transportation and MetroPool, Inc., a New York State Department of Transportation-supported, non-profit, regional transportation management company, to identify ways to improve the commute for his staff.
The commute alternatives package developed for the Suffern staff has successfully reduced single occupancy vehicle commuting by Thruway staff, contributed to a reduction in congestion in the corridor and earned the Authority a nomination for the US Environmental Protection Agency’s designation as a Best Workplace for Commuters.
"When your organization’s mission is to meet the needs of the motoring public with safe, convenient and accessible travel, there is a responsibility not only to encourage others to choose commute alternatives, but also to improve your own staff’s commute in ways that can help reduce congestion on an overtaxed road network," said Michael Fleischer, Executive Director, New York State Thruway Authority. The New York Division’s new employee commute program is now serving as a pilot project for the Thruway Authority in other areas of the state.
A Transportation Information Day hosted by the New York State Thruway Authority and organized by MetroPool at the New York Division’s offices in Suffern was opened to neighboring businesses, and those in attendance learned their commuting options. MetroPool’s mobility experts explained the free services that were available -- including support for creating car and vanpools for commuters. While some Thruway Authority staff signed on for carpools via MetroPool’s ride-matching service, others opted for a new bus service that would be run by Rockland County DOT and subsidized by the Thruway Authority.
For Helen Scrivanos, a secretary with the Thruway Authority’s New York Division, the daily commute by bus means arriving at work relaxed and unstressed. "The hardest part of my commute now is getting from home to the bus stop," she explained. "The new service was a big help when we moved -- there’s no reason to drive when you have a convenient service that is easy to use."
"We started with 2 employees signing up for the bus, and that grew to 4, then 6, then 8 -- now we have about 10 who take the bus to and from Tarrytown every day," added Mehta. The bus makes two runs daily, leaving Tarrytown at 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., and returning at 4:00 and 4:30 p.m. each evening. "We promote this service to our employees, and support their use of transit -- that serves as a strong incentive to use public transportation."
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