After decades-long growth in vehicle travel, the study shows that people are driving less as more and more people, particularly younger professionals, are relocating to urban areas. This has led to increased use of mass transit and reliance on car-sharing programs. Even in Tallahassee, where there is a growing emphasis on urban infill, we will most likely see increased usage of mass transit, bicycling, and walking as more sensible commuting options.

Read this article on NBC News Business for an overview of the study.

Study Indicates American Attitudes Toward Driving Radically Changing was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

The giveaway was organized, and largely funded, by the Simpkins family who lost their 22 year old son Tyler after a longboarding accident in March.  Tyler was a skilled athlete and coach; however, he was not wearing a helmet at the time and suffered fatal blunt force trauma to the head.

The family’s goal with this event was to reach out in a meaningful way to share the message of how vitally important safety helmets are.  The happy and grateful crowd was a sure sign of their success.

For more, see the WCTV Channel 6 coverage of the story.

Bike Helmet Giveaway was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

Be proactive. Diane Stegmeier, founder and CEO of workplace change management consulting firm Stegmeier Consulting Group in Ohio, says working from home requires an even stronger ownership of your career. “That means proactively communicating with the manager about the results you’re achieving and asking for new assignments that fuel career growth,” Stegmeier says. “Don’t wait to be asked to come in for a team or individual meeting. Instead, occasionally plan days to work on-site in the corporate offices. And reach out to colleagues to schedule brainstorming sessions to support team projects.”

For more insight, read the full article by Larry Buhl on MSN Careers.

Telework Tips for Employers and Employees was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

National Bike Month Opening Expo was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

There will be another meeting for residents to ask questions and give input on this flex route proposal on Wednesday, April 24th from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Lake Jackson Community Center.  Please attend if you can, because this is the time to make your preferences known–for stops, schedules, or even (especially!) simply to voice support for the project.

Read the press release with more details and view this Lake Jackson Map of the proposed service area.

Flex Route Service Proposed by StarMetro for Lake Jackson was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

The following infographic reveals the findings of the report (click the image to enlarge).

If you wish to read the in-depth findings of this year’s study, including a breakdown of specific costs by category of vehicle and various annual mileages, download the ‘Your Driving Costs’ brochure.

AAA Study Shows Driving Costs on the Rise [Infographic] was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

Pilot Project Would Provide Transportation Services to Lake Jackson Area

If you live near Lake Jackson, then StarMetro is looking for your ideas and feedback on a proposed pilot project for a flexible bus route in your area. As the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Leon County, StarMetro will host two public meetings on Wednesdays, April 17 and 24, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Jackson Community Center, located at 3840 North Monroe Street.

“The goal of these public meetings is two-fold,” said Ivan Maldonado, interim executive director for StarMetro. “One, we want to introduce this innovative idea of flexible route to our community; and, two, we want to gain feedback from area residents on how a flexible route would best serve their transportation needs.”

A flexible or ‘flex’ route combines the best of both a traditional fixed route and a demand response service, such as Dial-A-Ride. Flex routes follow a defined route that pick-up and drop-off customers at designated stops, as well as flex or deviate from this defined route in order to pick-up and drop-off customers within an outlined service area who call ahead and reserve a trip. Typically, flex routes exist in rural areas and connect to fixed routes that then travel into urban areas.

The proposed flex route for the Lake Jackson area would travel along North Monroe Street, Capital Circle NW and Fred George Road, covering an 11 square mile area. One of the stops would be the Lake Jackson Town Center where customers could transfer to two of StarMetro’s fixed routes, the Big Bend and the Forest.

Map of Proposed Lake Jackson Flex Route

“The Tallahassee City Commission had been searching for ways to help residents outside the city limits access StarMetro services,” said City Commissioner Nancy Miller, lead commissioner for the City’s Long Range Planning Target Issue Committee.  “When StarMetro staff asked for approval to apply for a federal grant that would help fund this new way of meeting customer needs, we quickly approved their request and lauded their resourcefulness.”

“Reliable transportation is critical to helping our rural residents like those in the Lake Jackson area remain healthy, active and productive,” said County Commissioner Mary Ann Lindley, Chair for the Leon County Transportation Disadvantage Coordinating Board. “By offering transportation options to the Lake Jackson area, we can enhance the quality of life for that community and its residents.”

The Lake Jackson area was chosen as the first rural location to begin a flex route due its dense population. With the proposed flex route, StarMetro will serve approximately 7,000 residents. The Lake Jackson flex route is a pilot project that may lead to additional flex routes into areas surrounding the City of Tallahassee, pending available funding sources.

Recently, the Federal Transit Administration awarded StarMetro with a Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant that would provide the funds to begin a flex route. The grant totaled $169,910. The 50 percent local match required by the grant would come from the CTC budget.

As the CTC, StarMetro provides countywide transportation services to senior, disabled and low-income citizens who lack adequate transportation to meet their basic needs. In fiscal year 2012, StarMetro provided nearly 77,000 trips to transportation disadvantaged citizens in the county. A recent survey shows that customers rely on StarMetro’s CTC service to get to work, class and personal or medical appointments, allowing them to remain active and engaged with their community.

For more information about StarMetro services, please call StarMetro’s main office at 891-5200 or visit Talgov.com/starmetro. Other ways to view information include liking StarMetro’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/starmetrotransit or following the organization on Twitter at Twitter.com/ridestarmetro.

Contact Informaiton: Heather Teter, Department of Communications, 891-5206

StarMetro Hosts Public Meetings for Proposed Flex Route was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

Free Transportation Service for Veterans This Weekend

This Friday through Sunday, StarMetro will provide free transportation services to all veterans in support of the Homeless Veterans Stand Down event taking place at the North Florida fairgrounds. This three-day event, sanctioned by the Department of Veterans Affairs and sponsored by the Florida Veterans Foundation, aims to break the cycle of homelessness among veterans.

“The North Florida Stand Down event is a great way to give homeless veterans in our area the jump start they need,” said Mayor John Marks. “Through their service they have given so much to us, now it’s our turn to give to them.”

April 5 – 7, the North Florida fairgrounds will take on a military atmosphere as tents and cots are setup for homeless veterans, who will live and sleep on the property throughout the weekend. Over 100 human service agencies and other vendors will be participating in the Stand Down event by providing the veterans with food, clothing and medical, legal and mental services.

“It’s estimated that there are 67,000 homeless veterans in our nation,” said Ivan Maldonado, interim executive director of StarMetro. “As a veteran myself, I’m thrilled to see that StarMetro is helping assist the North Florida Stand Down event by providing free service to all veterans who show their military I.D. or paperwork when boarding the bus this weekend.”

Stand Down events began in San Diego in 1988. Twenty-five years later, there are more than 200 Stand Down events that take place throughout the country each year.

“We are so pleased that StarMetro is helping support our local Stand Down event,” said Col. Washington J. Sanchez Jr., program director for Stand Down. “By partnering with StarMetro, we can ensure that our local homeless veterans can arrive to the event in a safe and reliable manner.”

For more information on the Stand Down event, please visit NorthFloridaStandDown.org.

For more information about StarMetro services, please call StarMetro’s main office at 891-5200 or visit Talgov.com/starmetro. Other ways to view information include liking StarMetro’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/starmetrotransit or following the organization on Twitter at Twitter.com/ridestarmetro.

Contact Information:  Heather Teter, Department of Communications, (850) 891-5206

StarMetro Honors All Who Have Served the Red, White and Blue was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

The event will be on Wednesday, March 27th at 5:45 PM at the 5th Avenue Taproom (map).

Green Drinks is a project of Sustainable Tallahassee. There is no cost to attend and each month features a speaker and lots of information about what’s happening in the Tallahassee area when it comes to “green.” Find out more about the project on the Green Drinks Facebook page.

Mark your calendar and bring a friend!

Sustainable Tallahassee’s Green Drinks Presents “Making Your Car Optional” was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.

Proterra Bus with FastFill Charging Station.

Construction Begins on FastFill Charging Station for Electric Buses

StarMetro is one step closer to launching its brand new all-electric, zero-emission buses. This week, the transit agency will begin construction on a fast charge station at C.K. Steele Plaza. This FastFill charging station, manufactured by Proterra Inc., will charge the electric buses at the central transfer station in as little as ten minutes.

“When fully implemented, we will have five electric buses in operation, which will be the largest electric bus fleet in the nation,” said City Commissioner Scott Maddox, who serves on the city’s Long Range Planning Target Issue Committee. “This action, along with our commitment to compressed natural gas fueling, once again reflects Tallahassee as a leader in sustainability and in finding ways to efficiently help our citizens travel throughout the community. The fact that we have been awarded over $7 million in federal grants also shows that our work is being recognized on a national level.”

Ivan Maldonado, interim executive director of StarMetro, said the decision to place the Proterra FastFill charging station at C.K. Steele Plaza will eliminate the need for the electric buses to go off line to receive a charge at StarMetro’s main facility on Appleyard Drive.  “With the charging station at the plaza, the electric buses can rapidly recharge on-route as customers unload and board the bus.”

To recharge at the Proterra FastFill charging station, an electric bus simply pulls into the plaza and automatically connects with an overhead system that links to the bus’ high-capacity charger. The charging station includes advanced wireless controls that facilitate the docking process. The wireless controls identify that the electric bus is present and then automatically guides and connects the bus with the charging station, free from coach operator involvement.

In order to keep customers away from the charging station, StarMetro will construct a wall surrounding the high-voltage area. This wall will feature individual block pieces that are cast with a design, and then installed along the wall. The design, created by artists, will depict the transition of nature and energy through the seasons. This design will be visible by motorists and StarMetro customers in the plaza.

Staff expects construction to be completed by July, weather permitting. After a month-long testing period, the fast charge station will be operational, and the electric buses can begin service. By the end of August, the electric buses should be fully operational.

“Once our new electric buses are in service, we will be the first transit agency in the state of Florida and the first of the east coast to operate these revolutionary electric buses,” said Maldonado. “We are proud to be on the cutting edge of technology, changing the transportation industry to better serve our loyal customers and keep our impact on the environment to a minimum.”

In 2010, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded StarMetro over $5 million dollars of the Transit Investments for Green Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) II grant in order to purchase three all-electric buses and construct a charging station. The following year, StarMetro signed a contract with Proterra for the production of these buses and charging station. Last year, FTA upped its award to StarMetro by $2 million dollars for the purchase of two additional electric buses. With the delivery of the two additional electric buses, which are currently under construction, StarMetro will have five all-electric buses in its fleet.

For more information about StarMetro services, please call StarMetro’s main office at 891-5200 or visit Talgov.com/starmetro. Other ways to view information include liking StarMetro’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/starmetrotransit or following the organization on Twitter at Twitter.com/ridestarmetro.

Contact Information:    Heather Teter, Department of Communications, (850) 891-5206

StarMetro – It’s Electric! was originally published on Commuter Services of North Florida.
© Florida State University. All rights reserved.