Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2009 Service Profiles Region X alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington October 2010 fta-08-0162 Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) fy 2009 Service Profiles: Region X

Accomplishments: Rural Resources developed partnerships with businesses, existing carpools, private transportation providers and community members to provide guaranteed rides home. Successful carpool systems provide guaranteed rides home when unexpected emergencies or last minute obligations to work later than normal, make carpooling home impossible. These rides are frequently provided on a commuter route, or dial-a-ride service without cost to the carpool participant.
We entered a partnership with King County Metro to use their web-based “rideshare online” service for our carpool matching clients. This provided an opportunity to promote the service and provide on-line information to our participants.
Lessons learned: We have had difficulty in building participation in this project. We have examined the way we recruited drivers and riders (usually through direct contact at community locations and events) and have decided that maybe we would have more success if we targeted employers. We developed a single sheet with information on one side explaining the Carpool Match Project and a registration form is on the back. Employers are being contacted and asked if they are willing to place the information with paychecks or in employee mailboxes. Many of the employers have been willing, so we hope that this new strategy helps build the Carpool Project.
One of the lessons has been how difficult it is to change people’s habits. Most drivers here commute alone, and are quite content to continue. When fuel prices soared last summer, suddenly people were clamoring for ways to reduce the cost of their commute. People in this area are unfamiliar with how carpools operate, usually splitting some costs of the commute, so they don’t really understand why they would benefit from shared riding. In their minds, someone gets a “free ride”, while the costs are borne by the driver.

Senior Services of Snohomish County (659)

SNOTRAC Mobility Manager (748)

Location: Snohomish County (WA)