Commuters and shoppers can wave at the collection box today
as they pass by and take a seat on ValleyRide buses. They
can take advantage of Free Fare Fridays this month as part
of a promotion for alternative transportation.
The May in Motion campaign is sponsored by the Ada County
Highway Districts (ACHD) Commuteride, ValleyRide, KIVI-TV,
Boise State University Radio and KRVB radio. It features a
variety of events to promote an understanding and use of transportation
alternatives.
ITD encourages the use of alternative transportation among
its 1,800-plus employees and all Idahoans.
In a recent statement to the Idaho Statesman, ITD Director
Dave Ekern said: Each of us, in our everyday lives,
must make choices on how we travel to work, school, recreation,
shopping and the many other activities
ITDs visioning process last year showed that
Idahoans want multimodal choices on how to get to work, shopping
areas, school and recreation. They want these options to support
their lifestyles and they want the freedom to make these choices
at a reasonable cost. Planning, implementing and supporting
those options is part of our mission, working with COMPASS
(Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho), ValleyRide,
ACHD, the private sector, Legislature and the governor to
make this goal a reality.
ITD staff is applying this vision planning process,
such as the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes being studied
as part of the current I-84 Orchard to Gowen Interchange Study
and the strengthening of pedestrian and bicycle facilities
in our project design plans.
ITD also encourages its employees to participate in alternative
transportation by rewarding those who commute in vanpools
and carpools and adjusting work schedules, when possible,
to make alternatives more convenient. The department also
encourages employees to use public transportation, ride bicycles
or walk to work when practical.
Employees at Headquarters were invited to participate in
the 2004 Corporate Challenge by maintaining a log of their
commutes. Those who use buses, shuttles, vanpools, carpools,
bicycles or their own feet during May can turn their records
in and become eligible for a number of rewards.
The grand prize, reserved for those who use transportation
alternatives 10 or more times through the month, is two round-trip
tickets wherever SouthWest Airlines flies.
ITD finished second in the corporate challenge last year,
based on the number of participants.
Why the emphasis on alternative transportation?
Idahos Treasure Valley is the seventh fastest-growing
metropolitan area in the country, and recently ranked first
among cities in the Northwest for urban sprawl. The regions
population is expected to surge 40.1 percent to nearly
700,000 people by 2015.
May in Motion, which also celebrates National Transportation
Month, informs Idahoans about transportation-related issues
and encourages participation in transportation alternatives
as a way of reducing traffic congestion and improving air
quality.
In addition to free bus rides on Fridays, May in Motion includes: