Solutions Fall 2011 - Plain Text - Arlington Transportation Partners

Solutions Fall 2011 - Plain Text

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SOLUTIONS

Arlington Transportation Partner’s complimentary newsletter, Solutions, provides information about commuting-related issues and options in and around Arlington County including: maps and schedules, new services, updates about routes, transit oriented events, special promotions, programs through Arlington County, spotlights on local businesses and residential communities, tips, and interesting tidbits of information about the world of commuting options.

Fall 2011

Arlington Residents Have Embraced Sustainable Transportation Modes
Smart Plays with the Arlington Green Games!
Mobility Lab: Delivering open data power to the people!
Become a Bicycle Friendly Business
Employer Spotlight - The Paramount Group
Residential Spotlight - The Jordan
Another Argument for Ditching your Car . . . Your Health

Page 2

To Platoon or Not to Platoon?
Tech Tips - Pedal Removal or Installation
Transit Trivia
Developer Services
School Crossing Zone Ahead: Walk and Bike to School Day 2011 Coming Up on October 5, 2011
“Driving Green”: Some tips when driving is necessary
All Things Metro: New & Improved Station Names for 11 Metrorail Stops
Virtual Tunnel Between Farragut North and West

Arlington Residents Have Embraced Sustainable Transportation Modes

Arlington County’s latest transportation survey showed that Arlington residents drove alone for less than half of all their daily trips. Travel patterns differed in different parts of Arlington. Residents in the Metrorail corridors walked and used transit more often, and residents of single-family neighborhoods (“Other Arlington”) shared rides at a higher rate. However, overall, Arlingtonians seemed to be of a common mind in embracing the more sustainable modes of transportation for their daily travel.

These are the early results from the Household Travel Survey conducted by Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and Arlington County. The survey collected data from over 1,000 Arlington households with about 2,300 residents. Each household member was asked to record all trips made during one 24-hour day in a trip diary. Trips made by children were recorded by an adult. Trips were made for work, school, shopping, recreation, meals, and all types of daily needs.
Survey respondents used transit mainly for commuting to work or work-related trips. They shared rides for all types of nonwork trips, especially to school/daycare and to pick up/drop off others. They drove alone most often for work and work-related trips, but also for shopping/running errands and for personal business. But most interestingly, about a third of all walking trips were made for work or work-related travel. Respondents also walked to shop/run errands and for meals away from home.
Almost half of trips made by Arlington residents were less than 2 miles, and only 8% were more than 10 miles. Even though Arlingtonians made shorter trips, the travel times were similar to overall regional trips. This reflects the choice by Arlington residents to travel by more sustainable modes, which often requires more time but usually offers the healthy benefit of more physical activity. The best part of “active transportation” (i.e., walking and biking) is that it is usually free—there is no cost per trip for fuel or fare! As this scorching summer makes way for cooler fall temperatures, choose transportation options that contribute the most to your health, wealth, and the environment.

For more on ACCS Research, see: commuterpage.com/research

Smart Plays with the Arlington Green Games

Learn how to make your office or building more sustainable today with these upcoming FREE trainings and events! To register for an event and to see a full list of events, visit www.arlingtongreengames.com.

September 27, 2011
Timeout Tuesday: Sustainable Landscaping at Work and at Home?11:30am - 1:00pm Increase your curb appeal! Plant selection, storm water management, water conservation, and the overall aesthetics of your home or business – come learn more. Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd in the Cherry/Dogwood Conference Room, Lobby Level. Bring your lunch and come learn from experts on the topics!

October 5, 2011
Webinar Wednesday: Engaging Your Property Managers for Office Tenants?10:00am – 11:00am - Teaming up with your building’s property manager can help you reap even more benefits and savings. Learn helpful tips and tricks to engage your property manager on energy and sustainability practices than can be implemented building-wide.

October 5, 2011
Webinar Wednesday: Engaging Your Tenants for Property Managers?2:00pm – 3:00pm - You can improve your building’s HVAC system and lighting, landscaping practices, ?even cleaning practices, but your building will only be as efficient as its tenants. Teaming up with your?tenants can help you reap even more benefits and savings. Learn helpful tips and tricks to engage?your tenants on energy and sustainability practices than can be implemented in their own office space.

October 11, 2011
Mingling Monday: ENERGY STAR and LEED ?8:00am - 9:00am - Come on by to network with other competitors about ENERGY STAR and LEED.?Arlington Transportation Partners, 1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100. Light breakfast is provided.

October 25, 2011
Timeout Tuesday: Sustainable Purchasing Policies ?11:30am - 1:00pm - True or false? Green purchasing is expensive and not cost-effective. FALSE! ?Bring your recycled notebooks and take note as we discuss how to assess your purchasing needs ?and develop a policy that has everyone’s buy-in. Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd in the ?Cherry/Dogwood Conference Room, Lobby Level. Bring your lunch and come learn from experts ?on the topics!

November 2, 2011
Webinar Wednesday: Innovative Strategies: From Composting to RECs for Office Tenants
10:00am – 11:00am - Now that you’ve been working for awhile to address the low-hanging fruit ?actions to make your office space greener and more energy-efficient, it’s time to think about other ?innovative ways to save money and help the environment. Did you know that office composting is ?growing in popularity? Or, have you considered purchasing renewable energy credits but don’t know ?where to begin? This webinar will showcase innovative, sustainable office practices.

November 2, 2011
Webinar Wednesday: Renewable Energy for Property Managers
2:00pm – 3:00pm - Now that you’ve been working for awhile to address low-hanging fruit and other?energy efficiency upgrades, have you given thought to renewable energy systems to help reap even ?more reward? Renewable energy systems can be a great addition to an already efficient building. ?Whether you want to install renewable energy or learn how to buy credits, this webinar will help you ?take it to the next level!

November 14, 2011
Mingling Monday: Green Beyond the Workplace ?8:00am - 9:00am - Come on by to network with other competitors about going green beyond the ?workplace. Arlington Transportation Partners, 1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100. Light breakfast is ?provided.

November 29, 2011
Timeout Tuesday: Communicating Your Eco-Success?11:30am - 1:00pm - Share your story! Learn the value in communicating your environmental success to?employees and stakeholders. Receive tips and tricks of the trade as we approach the finish line of our ?inaugural season. Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd in the Cherry/Dogwood Conference Room, ?Lobby Level. Bring your lunch and come learn from experts on the topics!

December 7, 2011
Webinar Wednesday: LEED for Commercial Interiors for Office Tenants?10:00am – 11:00am - LEED for Commercial Interiors is the green benchmark for the tenant improvement market. It is the recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced ?environmental footprint. Learn how you can work toward and apply for this certification.

December 7, 2011
Webinar Wednesday: LEED for Existing Buildings for Property Managers 2:00pm – 3:00pm - The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System helps building owners and operators ?measure operations, improvements, and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. LEED for Existing Buildings addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues (including chemical use), recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades. Learn how you can work toward and apply for this certification.

December 12, 2011
Mingling Monday: Feedback and Experience of Inaugural Season 8:00am - 9:00am - Come on by to network with other competitors about the Inaugural Season of the Arlington Green Games. Arlington Transportation Partners, 1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100. Light breakfast is provided.

December 20, 2011
Timeout Tuesday: LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 11:30am - 1:00pm - Take your green to the next level. Whether you have one office or an entire building, come see how LEED can help take you further in your energy and environmental goals. Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Blvd in the Cherry/Dogwood Conference Room, Lobby Level. Bring your lunch and come learn from experts on the topics!

For more information or to schedule a meeting with the Arlington Green Games staff, please contact Kelly Zonderwyk at kzonderwyk@arlingtonva.us or 703.228.4822, or Sarah O’Connell at seoconnell@arlingtonva.us or 703.228.4797.

Mobility Lab: Delivering open data power to the people!

Open data seem to be all the rage these days, with sources ranging from WMATA to the Federal government’s Data.gov. But honestly, who wants to sit down and read data tables? Clearly, the true power of open data comes with strategic applications that showcase the information in useful ways.

Mobility Lab Training focuses on proven TDM practices supported by extensive research. Our instructors are expert TDM practitioners carefully selected for the subject based upon their real-world success. Training classes are conducted in a classroom setting and archived online for use 24/7. State TDM Certification from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation is available for individuals who complete a required curriculum.

Lab Project #1: Growing Capital BikeShare – seeking input from the crowd

Capital BikeBhare’s phenomenal success demands fast growth. In less than a year, CaBi ridership has increased to nearly 5,000 trips per day. To accommodate future growth, the system will expand its network of stations over the next few months.

An immediate goal for CaBi expansion in Arlington is to create a dense network of stations throughout the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. A citzen input meeting was convened at the County Building on June 27th.

In addition to the public meeting, Mobility Lab teamed up with BikeArlington and Capital BikeShare to create an online tool allowing users to participate in the process at their convenience 24/7. Over the course of a three-week period, over 200 individuals gave suggestions online for station locations by dropping “pins” on a map and offering comments to one another’s proposals. Users could share their experience using the tool with friends on Facebook and other social media outlets. Overall, this process offered the public a behind-the-scenes view of issues confronted by county planners and allowed those planners to receive unfiltered feedback on 63 proposed?locations.

“Opening the planning process to receive public input online has definitely enhanced our mission ?to create the most usable system possible,” says BikeArlington Marketing Manager, Tim Kelley. ?“We were really pleased with the response!”
Like all Mobility Lab projects, code developed for the online station locater tool is open source and available publicly. Already, the program’s success is prompting Capital BikeShare to reconfigure the tool for system-wide use in anticipation of even further expansion. Stay tuned!

Lab Project #2: Hosting Transit Techs – collaborating for better applications

On Saturday July 23rd, Mobility Lab hosted a symposium of transit application developers to discuss ideas and brainstorm opportunities for developing new tools to help people efficiently use transportation. The event was cosponsored with GreaterGreaterWashington.org and OpenPlans.org. These organizations brought expertise from years of work at Google and from leading similar transportation technology events in New York and San Francisco.

The day offered individuals time to show off applications they have developed independently as well as a brainstorming exercise of useful tools the group could develop collaboratively. Clearly, the event demonstrates there’s a very fertile intersection of the group’s technical skills, open source transit data, and the public’s need for better tools.

A follow-up “Transit Hack Day” is scheduled in September, when the group plans to further develop two or three of the brainstormed ideas. For more information about both projects, contact Tom.Fairchild@MobilityLab.org.

Become a Bicycle Friendly Business

Are you a bike friendly business?

Is your organization proud of the efforts you're making to promote bicycling as an alternative mode of transportation? If so, apply NOW to gain therecognition you deserve through the League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly Business program! Prove to your stakeholders and stockholders that you are a socially responsible member of our community by encouraging the use of bikes as a viable commuting option. Arlington Transportation Partners can help you through the application process which evaluates your biking resources such as bike racks, showers, onsite toolkits, and much more.

Benefits of being bike friendly:
Reduce you company's carbon footprint.
Maintain a healthy workforce that uses fewer sick days.
Support a sustainable business plan.
Reduce the need for vehicle parking spaces.
Fit employees are more alert, more productive, and perform better and more efficiently.
And many, many more!

For more information on the program please visit BikeArlington.com/BFB or contact Arlington Transportation Partners at 703-247-9299 (TDD: 711) or solutions@transpartners.com and apply today!

Employer Spotlight – The Paramount Group

The Paramount Group, a property management company and owners of the Waterview Building in Arlington, VA, have shown a tremendous commitment to providing their employees and tenants with sustainable transportation options and education.
Recently awarded the designation of a Bicycle Friendly Business by the League of American Bicyclists, the Waterview Building boasts a bike facility complete with secure bike storage, bicycle maintenance equipment, and showers and lockers open to all building tenants. The Paramount Group also offers a pre-tax transit benefit to their on-site employees. Additionally, prominent lobby information displays a variety of area maps and transit brochures, educating building occupants about the variety of public transportation options available in the vicinity.

Earlier this spring, a brand new Capital BikeShare station was installed just outside the building, giving tenants easy access to the nation’s largest bicycle sharing system.

Many employers in the building have followed The Paramount Group’s example by promoting their own programs, including car-sharing discounts, transportation fairs, and programs to help employees find ride-matching partners.
To learn about how your company can implement some of the transportation amenities that Paramount Group has conducted please call ATP at (703) 247-9299.

Residential Highlight – The Jordan

The Jordan is a newly constructed residential property located at 801 N. Wakefield Street and is expected to be completed and ready for its first residents in September. As with all new construction properties, this building has also been subject to Arlington County’s extensive transportation demand management site plan requirements, equipping it with an exceptional transportation plan and amenities.

The property is within four blocks of the Ballston Metro station and 19 bus lines are located within a half mile of the property. It is also located just two blocks from the Bluemont Junction and Custis trails and has more than 10 Zipcars within a short walking distance. In addition to being close to many public transit options, the property offers many transportation amenities.

Transportation Amenities

Wall-mounted transportation kiosk in the lobby for residents and guests
FREE SmartTrip Card containing $60 with initial lease signing
Monthly transit benefit for residents (amount will be determined by number of participants)
Car-sharing subsidy – Full reimbursement with proof of purchase for one membership fee during the initial occupancy period of each unit.
Link to Commuterpage.com from the property’s website for all commuting needs
Support for employees to understand their commuting options
Bike racks and storage for employees and residents

The Jordan is going above and beyond County requirements and doing everything to encourage the least amount of vehicle trips possible on Arlington roads. AHC development group is producing the property and encourages employees to drive less. Through their internal transit benefit program, ACH offers subsidies for employee commutes of $60 per month in combination with pre-tax deductible options as well. ATP believes that ACH is a great partner to work with on site plan requirements due to this existing company culture of driving less.

To find out how your property can implement some of the same programs that AHC and The Jordan have completed, please contact ATP at (703) 247-9299 (TDD: 711) or solutions@transpartners.com.

Another Argument for Ditching your Car . . .Your Health

It is now a well-known fact that our society increasingly faces major public health issues such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, while only 3 in 10 adults get the recommended amount of physical activity. Reasons such as lack of time and money are often cited as obstacles to exercising; therefore, it has become a challenge for health officials and interest groups to find ways to increase the amount of physical activity performed by adults and children.

Recent efforts have been made in urban areas to promote “active transportation,” especially in commuting to the workplace. These programs focus on increasing levels of walking, biking, and taking public transit for daily commutes, as well as reducing rates of single-occupancy vehicles. Walking and biking may be feasible for employees who live close to their workplace; however, public transit is a great option for longer commutes. It also presents an opportunity for riders to increase their amount of physical activity by walking to and from transit, since buses and trains rarely offer door-to-door service. Walking or biking to a transit stop, taking some form of public transportation, then walking or biking to the workplace (and vice versa at the end of the day), can offer significantly increased levels of physical activity. According to a study based on the National Household Travel Survey, 29% of transit users achieved greater than 30 minutes of physical activity a day, solely by walking to and from transit.¹ In addition, transit users are more likely to walk to midday and post-work activities, such as lunch, errands, and other nearby destinations. Walking or biking to and from public transit is a great way to incorporate exercise into a daily activity and also helps reduce congestion and improve air quality in your community.

A recent study from the Journal of Physical Activity and Health confirmed transit commuters not only walked more and had higher levels of physical activity than those who did not take transit, they also, “demonstrated a more physically active lifestyle,” by walking or biking for errands and activities near their home and workplace. The study also found that transit commuters accumulated almost 10 more minutes of moderate physical activity a day than those who did not commute by public transit.² This amounts to almost one hour a week of additional physical activity for transit commuters, which is about 40% of the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week.³ A similar study also found a positive relationship between employer-sponsored transit passes and increased physical activity. Those who were offered and utilized either a pre-tax transit benefit or direct benefit from their employer were found to commute to work more frequently without a vehicle and accessed more destinations by walking than driving, especially in higher density neighborhoods.⁴

Increasing physical activity is not the only impact commuting by transit has on public health. Studies have shown traffic congestion can take a toll on quality of life, and is a significant waste of time and resources. An assessment by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis estimated the social cost of congestion impacts in the year 2005 was $24 billion, while the projected cost of time wasted in congestion will increase from $56 billion in 2000 to $96 billion in 2030.5 However, by promoting the use of public transit, these impacts and costs can be mitigated by removing vehicles from the road network, thereby reducing congestion levels, decreasing the financial burden on society, and improving the personal well-being of commuters.

Congestion and vehicle traffic also increase vehicle emissions and greatly impact air quality, particularly in urban areas. The transportation sector accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and nearly 95% of transportation greenhouse gases consist of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, about 60% of transportation emissions come from “Light Duty Vehicles,” which includes passenger cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks.6 Individuals often feel that their personal actions do not make an impact on a region’s overall environmental quality, however, according to the EPA, 1 gallon of gasoline produces 19.4 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.7 Based on this amount, a 30-mpg passenger vehicle emits .65 pounds of carbon dioxide per mile; therefore, if the average annual mileage is 12,000 miles, that is 7,800 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted per year or nearly 3.5 tons for a single vehicle. While these statistics are alarming, there are many ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Walking, biking, and taking public transit to work can result in fewer vehicles on our roadways, and bring about a positive impact on regional air quality and improve the health of residents, especially vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

Arlington County has one of the highest rates of commuting by public transit in the country and has been progressive in expanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Through innovative planning and effective commuter programs, Arlington has become a great place to walk, bike, or take public transportation in your commute to work. With the majority of Arlington businesses located within walking distance of a variety of transportation options, employees have the opportunity to increase their physical activity by walking to and from transit, and have easier access to other nearby destinations. Over 60% of Arlington employers offer transit benefits to employees, which provide advantages to both the company and staff members, including tax savings, increased productivity, higher employee retention, and attractiveness to potential employees, among others. In addition, with over 100 miles of bike trails, lanes, and routes, as well as the $20 a month benefit for commuting by bicycle, it has become easier and more appealing for commuters to bike to work in Arlington.

Alternative modes of transportation are a critical component of a city’s infrastructure, and can greatly improve the overall health of a region. Changing your daily commute can have significant health, environmental, and economic impacts and can ultimately achieve considerable benefits in your workplace, your community, and your overall quality of life.

1 Besser, Lilah M., and Andrew L. Dannenberg. “Walking to Public Transit: Steps to Help Meet Physical Activity Recommendations.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 29.4 (2005): 273-80.
2 Lachapelle, Uga, Larry Frank, Brian E. Saelens, James F. Sallis, and Terry L. Conway. “Commuting by Public Transit and Physical Activity: Where You Live, Where You Work, and How You Get There.” Journal of Physical Activity and Health 8.Suppl1 (2011): 72-82.
3 USDHHS. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity guidelines for Americans. Washington DC: USDHHS, CDC; 2008.
4 Lachapelle, Uga, and Lawrence D. Frank. “Transit and Health: Mode of Transport, Employer-Sponsored Public Transit Pass Programs, and Physical Activity.” Journal of Public Health Policy 30 (2009): 73-94.
5 Levy, Jonathan I., Jonathan J. Buonocore, and Katherine Von Stackelberg. “Evaluation of the Public Health Impacts of Traffic.” Environmental Health 9 (2010).
6 U.S. EPA (2008). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 to 2006.
7 “Emission Facts: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle | US EPA.” US Environmental Protection Agency. 2011.