Commuter Services Announces October is Carpool to Work Month

October is Carpool to Work month! Join Commuter Services’ celebration by pledging to carpool during October and be entered in the prize drawing. Those who currently carpool to work can also participate! Visit www.494corridor.org for a link to the online pledge form. Participants must be 18 years or older, and live or work within Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, or Richfield.

For those who would like to find someone to share the ride with, they can request a free carpool match through our confidential system. The region also offers a subsidized vanpool program called Metro Vanpool operated by the Metropolitan Council. Vanpools must have a minimum of five passengers riding three or more days per week (on average) with a commute 11 miles or more one way. Additional information on the Metro Vanpool Program can also be requested. Requesting assistance does not obligate anyone to carpool or vanpool.

There are many benefits of carpooling. Carpooling to work can save costs on gas and vehicle maintenance. It also helps to save environmental costs, including the amount of pollution in the air. Those traveling on I-35W or I-394 can enjoy a time savings in the HOV lane.

Commuter Services offers free preferential carpool parking signs to employers for incentivizing employees to share the ride, thereby reducing the demand for parking spaces and providing a preferential place to park nearest the company entrance. Commuter Services manages preferential carpool parking for many employers, including Best Buy, Cargill, Starkey Laboratories, and others.

Free resources are available to commuters and employers year round at www.494corridor.org.

For more information, contact: Melissa Madison at 952-848-4947 or melissa@494corridor.org.