8/26/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Incentives offered for I-84 vanpools and carpools during construction
BOISE - With high gas prices and construction on I-84 between Nampa and Meridian, commuters have more reason than ever to join a vanpool or carpool. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) are partnering to give Canyon County commuters extra motivation to share vehicles: cash incentives.
ITD has allocated $275,000 to boost ACHD Commuteride services during the I-84, Garrity to Meridian project to reduce congestion and improve safety in the work zone. Effective immediately, vanpool and carpool participants entering eastbound I-84 at the Garrity Interchange or further west can qualify for the incentives.
Full-time vanpool riders will be eligible for an $84 quarterly rebate. Riders also may receive an $84 bonus for each new full-time rider they recruit.
Carpool participants who register online at commuteride.com and share at least 60 percent of their monthly commute trips will be eligible for a $25 gift card each month to local area merchants.
ACHD Commuteride Vanpool Coordinator Cecelia Hockett said the partnership also provides additional vans. This partnership makes it possible for ACHD Commuteride to allow vanpooling to begin before a van is full, allowing more people to participate.
For more details about eligibility and to register for ACHD Commuteride vanpool and carpool incentives, visit commuteride.com or call 345-POOL. Incentives will be available until the funds are spent.
The I-84, Garrity to Meridian project will result in six lanes and a median barrier between the Garrity and Meridian interchanges. The project is expected to be complete in 2010.
The project is part of a series of improvements in the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite Interstate improvements.