Commuters Challenged to Share Rides

	NuRide was founded on the belief that individuals who share rides provide a valuable service to their community and should be rewarded for their efforts. With NuRide, individuals can easily arrange ridesharing trips and earn rewards for every confirmed trip they take.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Houston Mayor Bill White Encourage Area Commuters and Businesses to Join Them in Supporting Important Regional Transportation Program

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Houston Mayor Bill White, and the Houston-Galveston Area Council announced in January the kick-off of the “Houston-Galveston Area 10,000,000 Miles Rideshare Challenge,” a regional initiative that challenges commuters to share rides that will result in 10,000,000 fewer miles driven on area roads throughout the eight-county Houston-Galveston region.

"We encourage commuters, businesses, and sponsors to join this important effort," said Houston Mayor Bill White. "Houston is growing fast and people all want to get to the same places at the same time. Sharing a ride more often is one of the easiest things we can do to help improve mobility and air quality for everyone, not to mention saving money on rising gasoline prices."

The Houston-Galveston area challenge is the largest event of its type and will involve an estimated 10,000 commuters, hundreds of area employers, and dozens of sponsors over a 10- to 12-month period. During the event, participating commuters will share more than 275,000 rides resulting in 10,000,000 fewer miles driven, the reduction of 4,000 tons of vehicle emissions, and the conservation of over 415,000 gallons of gas.

“Transportation is a region-wide issue and that’s why regional events such as this rideshare challenge are so important,” stated Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. “They bring commuters and businesses together to enrich the quality of life for all residents.”

Commuters can participate in the Houston-Galveston Area 10,000,000 Miles Rideshare Challenge by using the NuRide online ridesharing service to arrange rides and earn rewards provided by regional sponsors, such as Pappas Restaurants, Kolache Factory, Bike Barn, Theatre Under the Stars, Reliant Energy and others. Every shared ride will contribute to the 10,000,000-mile goal.

For more information about the event, or to find out how you or your company can get involved in the challenge, please visit the NuRide web site at www.nuride.com.

Going Green with Commute Alternatives

If your New Year’s resolution is to put more “green” in your life and in your pocket, Commute Solutions can help!

For 2008 many people made the resolution to put more “green” in their life. Whether your motivation to go “green” is to be more environmentally aware or is to save money, Commute Solutions can help you achieve both by incorporating a commute alternative into even the most hectic schedules.

If you’ve never tried a commute alternative, below are easy introductory steps for a smooth path to finding the commute alternative that is best for you.

First, determine how flexible your schedule is. If you have set hours and rarely need to use a car for business purposes, consider using a park and ride or METRO bus line. If you must travel to clients or vendors during the day consider carpooling with a neighbor or sign up for NuRide, an online rideshare matching system, at www.nuride.com.

Next step, do your research. If you’ve decided to use a park and ride or METRO bus, but don’t want to get on the wrong bus or miss your stop, go online at www.ridemetro.org and determine where the closest park and ride or bus stop is located and what time the bus arrives or departs. No Internet access? Call METRO at 713-658-0180.

So now that you have figured out the where and when, click here for “insider tips” to make your commute alternative a success!

El Paso Corporation Leads H-GAC's Clean School Bus Awareness Campaign and Donates $50,000

Program Aims to Reduce School Bus Emissions and Improve Air Quality

	Doug Foshee, President and CEO of the El Paso Corporation, presents a check for $50,000 to Jack Steele, Executive Director of the Houston-Galveston Area Council. As part of El Paso’s commitment to Houston’s air quality, Foshee challenged other corporations to donate in support of the Clean School Bus program to reduce harmful school bus emissions.

El Paso Corporation kicked off the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s (H-GAC) Clean School Bus Awareness Campaign in December with a contribution of $50,000 to help reduce school bus emissions and improve air quality for the Houston-Galveston area children. El Paso Corporation is doing its part to help reduce pollution and has asked other corporations to do the same.

“The quality of the air and the health of our children are of the utmost importance. El Paso Corporation is committed to environmental stewardship and is pleased to be part of a program to retrofit or replace Houston-Galveston area school buses,” said Doug Foshee, president and chief executive officer of El Paso Corporation. “Air quality is a very real challenge for our city, and we strongly encourage other corporations to take an active role in helping clean our air by supporting this program.”

The Texas Clean School Bus Program, a statewide program run by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), strives to protect the health of children and their communities by helping school districts retrofit or replace aging, polluting school buses with newer, cleaner transportation technologies and promote no idling policies. This program, which encompasses all local area school bus programs in addition to providing resources to areas of the state that do not have established programs, was launched on November 10, 2007 and the response has been outstanding.

H-GAC urges all corporations in the Houston-Galveston area to help reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality for the region. To take part in the Clean School Bus Corporate Challenge or for more information, go to www.cleanschoolbushouston.org or contact Graciela Lubertino at (713) 993-4582.

H-GAC Events on the Horizon

2008 has just begun and H-GAC already has some great events in the works!

Here’s a snapshot of what’s coming up:

Fresh Air Friday – April 11
The Houston-Galveston Area Council will celebrate the arrival of spring with their fifth annual Fresh Air Friday: A Picnic on the Plaza, a free outdoor picnic and concert to promote clean air programs and educate Houstonians on ways to help keep our city beautiful. Fresh Air Friday will bring Houstonians out of their offices and into the plaza to enjoy some fresh air, complimentary lunch to the first 500 people, prize giveaways and live entertainment. The event will also showcase clean air programs, vehicles, businesses, organizations and local governments that promote the use of commute alternatives, alternative fuels and clean-engine technology.

WHO: Downtown Houston employees
WHAT: Fresh Air Friday: A Picnic on the Plaza
WHEN: April 11, 2008, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
WHERE: Jones Plaza, 615 Louisiana (between Texas and Capitol)

2008 Advancing the Choice – June 18
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is working with local governments, school districts and businesses to help implement cutting edge alternative fuel and engine technologies in public and private fleets in order to combat our region’s air quality issues. To further their work, H-GAC will host the Advancing the Choice Conference in June to provide a forum for participants to receive information on the latest technologies, fuels, policies and programs related to heavy and light duty fleets as well as an open discussion to learn how to introduce and implement alternative fuels and technologies.

WHO: Public and private sector fleet managers, local governments, school districts and businesses
WHAT: Advancing the Choice Conference
WHEN: June 18, 2008, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Stafford Centre, 2610 South Main, Stafford, Texas 77477
Visit www.h-gac.com to stay updated on the latest upcoming events

Commuter Corner: Lori

Real stories from real Houston area commuters

Welcome to the new Commuter Corner, where Houston commuters can share their stories on commuting. To submit your own story, please send comments (200 words or less) with your first and last name and contact information to commuter@vollmerpr.com. Happy commuting!

Hi, my name is Lori, and I’ve been commuting from the Beltway 8 and SH 290 area to downtown for the past three years. I have used a combination of commute alternatives including NuRide, carpooling and the METRO bus. I’ve always noticed that using an alternative has helped me to save money and time, and with NuRide gets me cool stuff. In October of 2007 I got a really nice surprise my husband switched jobs and started working downtown. We decided to try carpooling together, and after the first month, I was shocked at how much money we were saving. No longer was he filling up his truck every two to three days (and my car every week), but we were able to combine trips to the office, store, dry cleaner and gym by commuting together. I know not everyone has the luxury of commuting with his or her spouse (and some may not want to!), but with gas prices rising daily and no immediate relief in sight, carpooling has been a helpful way to save me and my husband some serious cash!