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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Commuter Club Offers Largest Vanpool Program in Country
August Named “Vanpool Appreciation Month” to Celebrate TMA’s Success
ATLANTA, July, 2006 — Commuter Club announced today that its vanpool program is the largest of any Transportation Management Association’s (TMA) in the United States. With a record 74 vans as of July 1 and more than 700 participants, Commuter Club’s program continues to grow each month.
To celebrate, the TMA has named August “Vanpool Appreciation Month.” The festivities will include various activities, prizes and giveaways, as well as lobby displays in office buildings partnered with the program.
“Vanpooling is a major step toward reducing pollution and traffic in the Atlanta area, and we’re so proud of our program’s accomplishments,” said Ginny Rainey, executive director of Commuter Club. “We want to dedicate August to thanking our participants and partners, and to spreading the news of how others can experience the tangible benefits of vanpooling.”
Funded by the Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID), Commuter Club has worked for 10 years to provide Cumberland Galleria businesses, commuters and property managers with better transportation solutions. The vanpool program offers seats for $50 per month, bringing commuters from as close as Kennesaw and as far away as Jackson in Butts County to Cumberland Galleria.
With 16 vanpool placements since May, Commuter Club has already surpassed its goal of placing 12 new vans this year. The numbers alone show that Commuter Club’s vanpool program deserves a celebration. Since its inception in 1996, Commuter Club estimates that it has helped save commuters $5 million, and has prevented 75 tons of harmful pollutants and 37 million miles of car travel.
“Every day we receive calls from people who are interested in learning about our vanpool program,” Rainey said. “We’ve added 16 new vans since January. Our program is on a roll.”
Participants have found that vanpooling saves time and money, reduces their stress levels, and allows them to build friendships. For many vanpoolers, their ride to work with coworkers and friends has become a way of life.
“I thought I would try vanpooling for a little while because gas prices were so high. But that was almost a year ago, and now I’ll never go back to driving alone,” said Sandy Moore, who vanpools to the Cumberland Galleria area from Newnan. “I’ve made great friends in my carpool, and the ride into work is so much more relaxing.”
Commuters to Cumberland Galleria can join the vanpool program by calling 770.859.2331 or visiting www.commuterclub.com/vanpool.html. In addition to the vanpool program, Commuter Club offers carpooling, ridesharing, telecommuting assistance, facility and land-use assistance, and work schedule arrangements.
About Commuter Club
Since 1996, Commuter Club has offered free services for businesses and commuters in the Cumberland Galleria area. These services include vanpools with a $50 flat rate per rider per month, as well as assistance in implementing carpools, teleworking and other commute alternatives for individuals and employers. Commuter Club is a program of the Cumberland Community Improvement District. For more information, visit www.commuterclub.com.
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