Issuu

V-COMMUTE AN NVTA PROGRAM DEDICATED TO MOBILITY

ISSUE

625 BURNELL STREET | NAPA, CA | VCOMMUTE.ORG

BACKGROUND

Where the rubber meets the road The Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) has managed multiple Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs for several years with assistance from the Solano Transportation Authority (STA). Recent developments in TDM technology and stagnant program participation prompted NVTA to make improvements and introduce the program under a new platform known as V-Commute. The program approach aligns with regional goals and objectives for reducing congestion and improving air quality with a focus on local conditions.

PROGRAMS

Goals. Objectives. Actions. GOAL 1 Reduce Congestion

Objectives:

1. Move more people in fewer vehicles by developing TDM strategies that focus on the needs of distinct user groups (local residents, students, employers, workers and visitors) 2. Introduce and encourage participation in TDM programs to Napa Valley commuters in order to help reduce congestion on Napa County roads through outreach and engagement. 3. Help large employers (50 or more full time employees) comply with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 14, Rule 1(Requires large employers to offer commuter benefits to workers using alternative modes to help improve air quality and reduce congestion.

Actions: 1. INCENTIVIZE SUSTAINABLE COMMUTING • Provide rewards to commuters using sustainable modes through points programs • Promote Transit-Try Transit events; Free ride days; transit travel training for commuters • Student Transit Pass Program • Improve Transit commuter route services 2. ADVERTISE AND BRING AWARENESS TO V-COMMUTE PROGRAMS • Establish V-Commute Website • Create V-Commute program collateral for distribution • Pop-up events at employment centers: 6-8 annually • Maintain social media presence • Create and promote commute challenge events-provide incentives and rewards to participants 3. INCREASE EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUTER BENEFITS PROGRAM • Provide enrollment assistance to employers and employees • Provide periodic V-Commute platform training • Survey employers/employees-Needs assessment to ensure participation

PROGRAMS

Goals. Objectives. Actions. GOAL 2 Provide opportunities for commuters to share rides Objectives: 1. Make carpooling convenient for commuters using technology 1. Provide ride sharing hubs within Napa County

Actions: 1. Ride matching using V-Commute - 500 new users annually • Provide points for registration on the V-Commute platform to increase carpool matching • Provide points to users who get 5 friends to sign up 2. Improve Park and Ride lots • Casual Carpool pick up areas • Secure bike parking • Real-time parking availability/ information • Micromobility share for first mile/last mile connections

GOAL 3 Increase Sustainable Mode Share Objectives: 1. More people using Transit, biking, walking and carpooling 2. Work with local jurisdictions to offer a variety of mobility choices, such as bike share, e-bikes or scooter share to encourage mode shift from single occupancy vehicles to active, sustainable modes 3. Incentivize sustainable commute choices through financial points programs

Actions: 1. Assemble baseline information on travel modes in Napa County (Sources: Vital Signs; Travel Behavior Study etc.) evaluate after implementation of various strategies 2. Request for Information from micromobility companies for interest in operating in Napa County 3. Fund and offer incentives through V-Commute (Commute Challenges); partner with large employers to offer incentives

APPROACH

V-Commute program approach Information Strategies Informational strategies: • Update the existing foundational programs and develop new, user-friendly program website. • Advertise and promote program to residents, visitors, employers and workers and schools through social media, outreach efforts and printed collateral • Pop-up events to promote foundational programs

V-Commute Website Homepage

V-COMMUTE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH): This program provides financial relief to commuters using alternative transportation in the event they must leave work for an emergency. Many commuters report not using alternative modes for commuting out of concern of being able to leave work if they experience an emergency. The GRH program reimburses the participant for the emergency ride of their choice, e.g., UBER/Lyft/Taxi etc. up to 4 rides per calendar year. Eligibility: • Must be 18 years or older • Must work or go to College in Napa County • Used an alternative to driving alone on the day GRH is needed • Must have a V-Commute account and log trip to work or college on the day of GRH trip. Bucks for Bikes: This program is designed to encourage commuting by bicycle by offering up to $100 reimbursement for the purchase of a commuter bicycle. Program applicants must agree to provide trip data for the first year. Eligibility: • Must be a Napa resident or employee 18 years of age or older • Bicycles must be purchased from a bicycle retailer (no two-party agreements will be reimbursed) • One incentive limit per individual Commute Challenges: These events reward commuters who use alternative commute modes (Transit, biking, walking, carpooling) with points that they accumulate and can redeem through retailers such as Amazon. Challenges can be offered continually as funding allows, or periodically throughout the year to incentivize commuters to continue sustainable transportation practices.

Employer Commuter Benefits Compliance: The Commuter Benefits Program is a requirement under the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) Regulation 14, Rule 1 which requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to offer commuter benefits to their employees. Employers must register for the program through the Air District and choose one of the four options: 1. Option 1: Pre-tax Benefit-Allows employees to exclude their transit or vanpooling expenses from taxable income 1. Option 2: Employer-Provided Subsidy-Provide a subsidy to reduce or cover employees’ monthly transit or vanpool costs 1. Option 3: Employer-Provided Transit-Provide a free or low-cost transit service for employees, such as a bus, shuttle or vanpool service 1. Option 4: Alternative Commuter Benefit-Provide an alternative commuter benefit that is as effective in reducing single-occupancy commute trips as Options 1, 2 or 3. It is part of NVTA’s role to provide large employers within the county resources to meet the program requirements of the Commuter Benefits Program. Technological Strategies: NVTA contracted with RideAmigos, an online commuter management and ridesharing platform to promote these existing programs and incentivize commuters to use alternative modes of transportation for their commutes instead of driving alone. The online platform is associated with a smart phone App called Commute Tracker, which helps users find others to carpool with. The App also has trip planning features to help commuters choose from multiple modes, and includes information on cost savings and air quality and health benefits of using each alternative mode. These features help inform commuter decisions. The App includes gamification modules that provide incentives and rewards and encouragement for alternative commute behavior.

APPROACH

nvta.rideamigos.com homepage The platform has multiple benefits that will improve foundational programs by: • Providing platform users easy trip-tracking and rewards redemption • Employer management tools that promote and increase participation in employer benefits program • Data management and analysis for program evaluation • Creating private networks for ridesharing among specific user groups • Multimodal trip planning and trip logging • Encouraging sustainable transportation choices by providing users with information on the cost savings, GHG reduction and health benefits

Vine Transit Technologies Vine Transit is using multiple technologies that improve convenience for riders and provides useful data for improving system performance. Current technologies being utilized by Vine Transit and functions are: • HappyFox: Help-desk platform for community feedback • TapRide: Real-time dispatch for ondemand transit (Available in Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville and American Canyon) • Token Transit: Mobile ticketing for transit • HopThru: Mobile ticketing for transit • CAD/AVL : Computer Aided Dispatch/ Automatic Vehicle Locator manages real-time operations in the dispatch control center and on the bus • Remix: Route/service planning software