Commuter Services 1.866.585.RIDE - www.CommuterServicesFL.com 

Commuter Services Newsletter
 Florida Dept. of Transportation
In This Issue
Trip Track is Here
Program News
Trip Track Winners
Polk County Awards
We're Taking it to the Streets!
Local Events
Join Our List
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New Ambassador

Welcome Mayor  Fields  

City of Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields

 We welcome City of Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields, as our new Ambassador for Polk County. Mayor Fields is a member of the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District Board, the Transportation Planning Organization and the Polk Transit Authority Board. He is on the Board of Directors of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, the Tampa Bay Partnership, Florida League of Mayors and a member of the MyRegion.org Board of Advisors.  Mayor Fields looks forward to advancing the Commuter Services Ambassador role in Polk County, and we're happy to have him on board!

Farewell Jean Reed

 

 Commissioner Jean Reed

  

We wish to send a fond farewell to Jean Reed, our first and most active Ambassador, as she leaves the Polk  Board of County Commissioners.  From our unveiling in 2007, Polk County's Kick Off in 2008, District-wide Webinar in 2009, Challenge to Sarasota County and Polk County Try Transit Day in 2010, she was there.  As a leader in the community, she continues to be a Commuter Services supporter. Thank you!

Trip Track is Here
 Track Trips with Trip Track

This new online tracking system will help you measure both the monetary savings and carbon footprint of your alternative commute. If you use transit, bike, walk to work, telework, or already carpool, just log in, record your trip, and watch the savings add up.  Participate in monthly drawings and make your commute count for a better Southwest Florida.

  1. Visit the Trip Track site
  2.  Click "New Registration"
  3. After completeing registration, you will receive activation e-mail
  4.  Once activated, sign into Trip Track, click "Log Your Commute"
  5. On the calendar log, click the "Enter Log" for each day you wish to log trips. Confirm or edit the information, then "Save Log."

Hint: Instructions are on the right of the Trip Track site.

Commuter Info

 Rising Gas Prices

It's never too late to request a matchlist, to find people that could share your commute, inquire about transit routes or bike safety and trails.  Don't wait until you're paying top dollar at the pump, get the information you need to know now.  Use our Cost Calcuator to see your potential savings: Cost Calculator. Find cheap gas prices: Florida Gas Prices 

 

May is National Bike Month

Affordable Exercise Program

-Burn 450 calories per hour

-No classes or membership fees

-Inexpensive equipment

-At your leisure, on your schedule

-Reduce stress, feel great

The weather is wonderful and biking is a perfect way to get into shape. Go on, get out there!

 

Visit:Walking and Biking

 

LINC: LeeTran and CAT

The long awaited transit connection between Lee County's LeeTran and Collier County's CAT is finally approved.  The new service, LINC, is expected to go into effect in the later part of 2011. 

 

Get Active! Fit Friendly Southwest Florida

Fit-Friendly Southwest Florida consists of individuals and organizations working to create and sustain a culture of healthier lifestyles in our area.

One pillar of Fit-Friendly is to encourage workers to walk, cycle or use another mode of transportation involving physical activity to travel part or all of the way to and from work.  Doing so can reduce chronic disease, according to the Wellness Council of America. The public is welcome to join the movement by contacting Diane Holm at the Lee County Health Department, (239) 332-9561 or Diane Holm.

 April 2011

Greetings! 2011 has proven to be a very proactive year! With over 13,000 registered commuters and 160 Partners embracing options that can save money, reduce stress and support active lifestyles.  To recognize these efforts, we've established a new Partner Level recognition program and commuters can check out our new Trip Track program, which will enter you into monthly drawings for each clean commute you log. Plus, join us for the "Taking it to the Streets" Challenge April 13-23! 

Program News 

City of Fort Myers Mayor Henderson, Lee County Commissioner Bigelow and Lee County Facilities Services Manager Jan Cook; along with a few members of your Commuter Services team.Lee County Carpool Parking

Downtown Fort Myers commuters have something to smile about.  Full-time carpools of three or more can sign up for FREE preferred parking on the first floor (governmental employees only) or outside parking lot (combination of government and non-government employees) of the new garage on Heitman Street.  Pictured is City of Fort Myers Mayor Henderson, Lee County Commissioner Bigelow and Lee County Facilities Services Manager Jan Cook; along with a few members of your Commuter Services team. For more information or to apply for hang tags, contact Jan Cook in Facilities Services: cookjk@leegov.com  

 "Most Innovative Program for Third Year in a Row"

Most Innovative Program - Team photoCommuter Services received the "Most Innovative Program" award from the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR).  This is our third consecutive win, and we plan to work even harder this year to bring Southwest Florida new and exciting ways to utilize and benefit from alternative transportation modes.

Are you Still There?

register/updateIt's that time of the year again!  Please take a few moments to update your commuter profile in EZ Ride, to make sure we have the most current information to better serve you and commuters in the Southwest Florida.  If you've recently changed jobs, moved, changed phone numbers, email, work/class schedule or if you are now using a different mode of travel, send us your updates!   Not interested at this time?  Request to be made inactive.  Call us or visit CommuterServicesFL.com and click the "Register with Commuter Services" button to access your personal profile.

Trip Track Winners

March Trip Track Winner

Congratulations to Melissa Fuentes from South Seas Island Resort (Lee County).  Not only is Melissa an active carpooler, she drives a Prius, so she's really saving on fuel!

 

February Trip Track Winner

Congratulations to Doraine Wetzel (Lee County).   Pictured is Doraine with her carpool group (left from right): Kathy Awiszus, Jerry Cline, Doraine Wetzel and Ehab Guirguis.   Congratulations to Doraine Wetzel (Lee County).   Pictured is Doraine with her carpool group (left from right): Kathy Awiszus, Jerry Cline, Doraine Wetzel and Ehab Guirguis. 

 

 

 Polk County Awards

Try Transit Day; Polk County "Commuter Services Day" Awards

In recognition for the school and business that tracked the most trips using Trip Track during Polk County's Try Transit Day, and for the winning organizations from Polk County's "Commuter Services Day" the awards went to... 

 
We're Taking it to the Streets!!

Taking it to the Streets SWFL: April 13-23, 2011

Taking it to the Streets logoJoin the challenge to make Florida a better place to live, work, go to school, visit, grow and play. Join neighboring cities, counties, businesses and organizations in Southwest Florida.  We're Taking it to the Streets!

 

 

Join the challenge, save time and money, and get active!

  Commit to carpool, vanpool, bus, bike, walk, or telework

  Prove it.  Log your commitment in Trip Track and email/post photos

 

Beginning April 13, start planning your participation.  Join us at local happenings in your area, some are listed below.  Be sure to have all of your trips logged into Trip Track before the end of April, to participate in the challenge.  Visit: CommuterServicesFL.com or call 1.866.585.RIDE (7433), and find us on Facebook. Check back often for event updates. Log into Trip Track: triptrack.CommuterServicesFL.com

 

Get Active!
 Tuesday April 19 is Try Transit Day!
  • Lee County - Free Rides on LeeTran all Day
  • Collier County - CAT will be distributing 50 free bus passes and 50 free passes to the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon at the SweetBay Market on Goodlette and Pine Ridge.
  • Charlotte County - Dial-A-Ride callers will be entitled to receive a FREE round-trip when they mention "Taking it to the Streets" in any reservation made anytime between April 13-23. (Trip must be made effective within 30 days after the reservation). Call 941-575-4000 for details. One free trip per caller.
  • Sarasota County - Free Rides on SCAT all Day, and free rides the first day the new Express Bus goes into Service.
  • Manatee County - Free Rides on MCAT all Day, and free rides on the 99 Route to "Commuter Services Day" event on April 13.

Wednesday is Carpool Day Register or request your matchlist today.  Need help getting started?  Check out our Start-up Checklist. 

Thursday and Friday Telework, Bike and Walk Air up those tires, dust off that seat; dig out your sneakers, we're using our feet! There are plenty of places to go by foot, so the next time you grab your keys to go down the street, think: is this drive necessary?  Try to telework one day this week, or skip that drive to offsite meetings and opt for a teleconference.

Manatee Kick Off - April 13

Manatee, City of Bradenton, MCATTo kick off the Taking it to the Streets Campaign and Commuter Services in Manatee County, the County and City of Bradenton are joining together for: "Commuter Services Day!  April 13 from 10:30-2.  Courthouse Lawn 1100 Manatee Ave. West Bradenton, FL. Come on out Manatee County, and get on your way to a less costly and less stressful way to work, and help us improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in the Tampa Bay area.

 

Sarasota: North Port's "Beat the Gas Pump Day" - April 19

City of North Port logoJoin us for lunch at the City of North Port's "Beat the Gas Pump Day," an event designed for North Port commuters to check out transportation options to save money at the pump. The event will highlight three existing SCAT local service routes, the new SCAT Commuter Express Bus Service, upcoming Park and Ride at City Hall, Commuter Services partnership and phase completions of a Greenways project.  Join in for a transportation celebration at the George Mullen Community Center, next to City Hall. 

Charlotte "Takes it to the Streets!" Team Punta Gorda Bike Loaner ProgramWelcome aboard our newest county partner!  Take advantage of Dial-A-Ride's ten-day try transit special, borrow a bike compliments of TEAM Punta Gorda's free bicycle loaner program, or register with Commuter Services to find a carpool. Don't forget to log your trips in Trip Track!

Lee County and Fort Myers are "Taking it to the Streets"

Mayor Randy Henderson invites you to join him for the challenge, see his Letter of Support.   Also, downtown city employees will see new preferred parking spaces for carpools - a joint coorperation between the City and Lee County. Plus, City of Fort Myers Council Members and the City Manager's Office have their own friendly competition.  Stay tuned for more.

Lee County is designating new park and ride locations at five county libraries, to be announced soon.  Parks and Recreation is working to identify area parks that would also serve as Park and Rides, but we need your suggestions!  Tell us what areas you would recommend for future sites.

Collier County

Check out the Naples Pathways Coalition for local rides and runs, or UGottaGoGreen.com for local events.  Teams are already full speed ahead in planning for the fall edition of "Taking it to the Streets," first team meeting is April 21!  Try CAT's new transit routes on April 19, and head on over to the SweetBay to see if you're a winner (details in Try Transit article). Remember to track your trips!