What is the Low-Car Diet?
For one month, Zipcar is asking you to put down your keys and find out what the Zipcar way of life is all about. Folks from all over North American Zipcar cities will rise to the challenge, committing their keys and their consciences to being car free. They’ll be tweeting, taking photos, and logging miles biked, walked, and driven during their Low-Car Diet experience.

What do you have to do?
Aside from committing to parking your personal vehicle for one month and sharing all the details of your experience, Zipcar asks that you attend the opening and closing ceremonies, where you’ll get to meet your fellow Low-Car Dieters. You may also be asked to give interviews to the press or chronicle your experiences in more depth.

What’s in it for you?
Participants will get their first year Zipcar annual and application fee waived, and driving credit (along with a “car-free” survival kit filled with goodies from our sponsors) for the duration of the program.

So what do you say? Are you up for the Low-Car Diet?
Fill out Zipcar’s questionnaire here. 30 participants per city will be chosen. Low-Car Diet will begin September 14 and end on October 12. Good luck!

Customers can set up prepaid accounts linked to a Good To Go! Pass that is installed in your vehicle or linked to your license plate.  Automatic replenishment allows you to never have to worry about running low in your account.  Simply link a bank account or credit card to the account and your Good To Go! account is automatically replenished when you run low. 

As you drive under electronic sensors on the east high rise of the 520 bridge, the toll will be automatically deducted from your prepaid account.  If the driver does not have a prepaid account, a photo will be taken of the vehicle’s license plate, and a bill will be sent in the mail to the vehicle’s registered owner.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has launched an extensive outreach campaign to educate drivers about electronic tolling on the SR 520 Bridge.  To reach as many bridge users as possible, WSDOT is on the radio, in newspapers, online and out in the community.  WSDOT is also meeting with community and business groups throughout the region to answer questions about the SR 520 Bridge electronic tolling program. 

The message is simple:  You can get ready for all-electronic tolling on the SR 520 Bridge by joining the interest list at www.goodtogo520.org, and be among the first to sign up for a Good to Go! Pass in January 2011.  Subscribers will also receive regular updates about rates, account options, special offers and customer service resources.

As the bridge tolling approaches, now is a great time to reconsider your commute options. Although exact toll fares have not yet been set, getting across the bridge other than driving alone (i.e. bus, carpool or vanpool) will drastically cut your overall tolling costs.

Have more questions? Contact WSDOT!

• Leave a message at: 1-888-G2G-WSDOT (1-888-424-9736).  A customer service representative will return your call as soon as possible.
• Email: goodtogotolling@wsdot.wa.gov
• Website: www.goodtogo520.org

In exactly one week (Friday July 23 – Sunday, July 25) over 500 artists and about 300,000 people will swarm into Bellevue’s city center to experience arts fair weekend. What many people don’t know is that the event actually comprises three separate fairs:  The Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair, The 6th Street Fair and Bellevue Festival of the Arts. Will you be attending this year? If so, do you have your travel plans set? Read on for Choose Your Way Bellevue’s arts fair weekend transportation tips below!

Enjoy the arts and crafts in downtown Bellevue without sitting in traffic! Let Metro or Sound Transit do part of the driving for you. Simply park your car at a nearby park & ride, and then take the bus to a stop near the fair. Or better yet, visit metro.kingcounty.gov to plan your entire trip by bus using the Regional Trip Planner.

Tips for riding transit to downtown Bellevue:

• Carry your exact fare in cash: Bus drivers do not have change. You may pay your fare, and the fare for others traveling with you, using any combination of paper and coin currency. Various transit passes (including ORCA) will also be accepted provided they have a value equal to or greater than the required fare.
• Free fares for children: Up to 4 children ages 5 and under always ride free with a paying adult on Sound Transit and King County Metro buses. On Sundays, up to 4 children ages 18 and under may ride for free on King County Metro routes with an adult paying a $2 fare.
• All buses are wheelchair accessible.
• Return trip to park and ride: Plan ahead by locating the bay where you will wait to catch a bus back to the park and ride, as well as determining when the last bus leaves to get you there. Schedules will be posted at each bay to assist you.

Suggested Park and Ride Options for Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25:
The information below is specific to Saturday/Sunday operations. If you plan to utilize a park & ride lot on Friday you can expect more frequent service, an increased fare and fewer available parking spaces due to heavy commuter use. All suggested routes serve the Bellevue Transit Center for incoming and outgoing trips. For specific bus schedules and more detailed information, please visit metro.kingcounty.gov and enter your preferred route number in the “Get a Timetable” box in the upper right corner. For Sound Transit routes (535, 550 and 560) visit soundtransit.org.

If you have additional questions about arts fair weekend and getting there, please post a comment to the blog below. We’ll do our best to provide an answer as soon as possible. Plan ahead and enjoy the art!

Calling all vanpoolers! I want to know about you!

Let me start us off: I have been vanpooling for a year and a half. Before the vanpool, I rode the bus to work. However I would have to drive 20 minutes to get to the park and ride. From there, it was a 15 minute bus ride. It really wasn’t that bad of a commute.

When one of my co-workers switched her hours to match my schedule, we decided to try to start our own vanpool. After a few months of recruitment, we had enough riders to begin. My entire vanpool fare ($101/month) is actually free because the company I work for provides employees with an ORCA Passport card, covering 100% of my vanpool fare. It’s great how much money I save. Now I drive 3 minutes to the van pick-up. I put gas in my car once per month, compared to once a week, when I was taking the bus. I also get to drive to work with some wonderful women. So what’s your vanpool story? Tell me about it by commenting below!

-Melissa

This would mean Sound Transit trips within a county would be $2.50 for an adult fare and $3.50 if traveling to another county.  Because there would be no zone change over Lake Washington, Seattle to Eastside trips would be in one zone and thus remain $2.50.   Youth, senior and disabled fares would also change under the proposal. 

Current fares are heavily subsidized by government sales taxes and federal grants.  Fares cover approximately 20 percent of express bus operating costs and the increase will add $400,000 per month to Sound Transit’s budget. King County Metro increased fares by 25 cents per trip the past two years to offset decreased sales tax revenue. 

Sound Transit will have a public hearing on the increase in April. Readers: Do you support Sound Transit raising it’s fares to be able to continue to provide the same levels of transit service? Share your comments below.

-Michael

Is my ORCA information secure?
No personal information (name, birth date, credit card number, etc.) is stored directly on the ORCA cards.  There is no way for someone who steals or finds your ORCA card to obtain this information.  Any personal information is stored in a secure, confidential database that is separate from data about the card’s use.  This information is only linked in the case of a customer service inquiry, such as a lost/stolen card or refund request, or to load value onto a registered ORCA card.

Can my employer see where I am going if I get an ORCA card from them?
As you have read in the newspaper, your employer does have access to reports that show trip data for the ORCA cards associated with their business account.  However, this report only shows summary level transaction data (trip date, transit agency, route and time of transaction) and is not associated with any personal information (name, birth date, etc.) or even an ORCA card serial number.  An employer can request to receive the card serial number for a particular trip if they suspect misuse. This request must be done in writing and include a valid reason for the request.  If the request is granted then the employer will be given the serial number of the ORCA card.  It is up to each employer to determine if they are going to link ORCA card serial numbers with the name of the person using that card. 

Why does the ORCA card collect trip information?
The ORCA program collects data that is necessary for calculating the correct fare and distributing that fare revenue accurately between the 7 participating agencies.  They also use aggregate data from revenue collection and distribution to track regional travel patterns to assist with future transit service design.  Individual card data is uses by the ORCA agencies only to assist with customer service inquiries, such as loss/theft or refund requests.

Is there anything I can do if I don’t want any personal data collected by ORCA?
You have a number of options for maintaining anonymity when using the ORCA system.

- Talk to your employer:  If you receive an ORCA card from your employer, you can contact them directly about your concerns.  Employers set their own policies about ORCA card privacy and the information they can access.

- Use a personal card:  Your employer has no access to any data collected on an ORCA card you obtain personally.

- Use an unregistered personal card: Every ORCA card user has the option to not register their card and this allows a customer to use the card anonymously.  The drawback to having an unregistered card is that there is no way to transfer your funds to a new card if yours is lost or stolen.

- Pay cash: You can continue to use cash for all transit rides on all seven transit agencies.  However, interagency transfers are no longer accepted unless a customer is using an ORCA card.

Still have questions?  Post a comment and TransManage staff will be happy to help!

-Caryn

1. Online: Visit OrcaCard.com and create a new My Orca Account by clicking through the “Need a Card” and “Order New Card” links. Once your complete your My Orca Account profile, you will have the choice to either load a monthly bus pass product onto your card (essentially the new Puget Pass), or load cash into your “E-purse” which will be deducted from just like a debit card when you ride the bus. Both options require online payment with a valid Visa or Mastercard. Once you have completed the online process your ORCA card will show up in your mailbox shortly and ready to use!

*Note: Online option is for Adult ORCA cards only. Youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA cards must be purchased in person at an ORCA Customer service office (see “In Person Option A” below).

2. By Mail: Download the ORCA Card Order/Add Value Form, fill out the required sections, and mail your completed application to: ORCA Regional Mail Center, 201 S Jackson Street, MS TR-0108, Seattle, WA 98104-3856. Load a monthly pass product or cash into your “E-purse” by sending a check, credit card # or money order with your application. You may also load your ORCA card online or by phone a once you receive your card.

*Note: By Mail option is for Adult and Youth (ages 6 to 18) ORCA cards only. Senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA cards must be purchased in person at an ORCA Customer service office (see “In Person” options below).

3. By Phone: Call the ORCA customer service hotline at 1-888-988-6722 or TTY Relay: 711/1-888-889-6368. Payment for loading a monthly pass or cash into your “E-purse” requires a valid Visa or Mastercard.

*Note: Phone option is for Adult ORCA cards only. Youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA cards must be purchased in person at an ORCA Customer service office (see “In Person Option A” below).

4. In Person:

Option A - ORCA Customer Service Office. Click on the link to view offices by agency and location. Adult, youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA card applications are accepted. Most forms of payment are also accepted.

Option B - Participating Retail Outlet. Click on the link to view retail outlets and locations. Pick up a new ORCA card (Adult fare customers only) and load a monthly bus pass or cash to your “E-purse” (all customers).

Option C – Stop by either of these downtown Bellevue locations Monday through Friday, while supplies last: Commuter Connection store, in the Rider Services Building at the Bellevue Transit Center, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. TransManage office. 500 108th Ave. NE, Suite 210, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

*Note: Only Adult fare customers can receive a new blank ORCA card at a participating retail outlet, the Commuter Connection store or the TransManage office. Customers eligible for reduced fare (Youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA cards must first obtain a reduced fare ORCA card at an ORCA Customer Service Office (see Option A) prior to adding value.

5. Ticket Vending Machine: Located on the mezzanine level of all Sound Transit Link light rail and Sounder commuter rail stations. Click on this link to view the full list of self-serve ticket vending machine locations. A machine is expected to be installed at the Bellevue Transit Center in spring 2010. TVM purchases require cash or valid Visa or MasterCard.

*Note: Only Adult fare customers may receive new ORCA card at a Ticket Vending Machine. Customers eligible for reduced fare (Youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Regional Reduced Fare Permit ORCA cards) must first obtain a reduced fare ORCA card at an ORCA Customer Service Office before  adding value at a TVM location.

And please be aware that through January 31 the standard ORCA card is available at no charge, however beginning February 1, 2010 a $5 card fee will be charged. Current youth (ages 6 to 18), senior (ages 65+) and disabled Reduced Regional Fare Permit holders may exchange their valid RRFP card at a ORCA Customer Service Office (see locations above) any time for a new ORCA RRFP card at no charge. A new RRFP ORCA card costs $3.

Happy travels!

-Jordan

Also follow these easy travel tips to spend more time enjoying the holiday sights, sounds and celebrations in Downtown Bellevue.

TRY THE NE 4TH STREET EXIT: Driving to the Bellevue Collection? You may save time by skipping NE 8th Street. NE 2nd and NE 10th will help you bypass backups as well. And, if you’re coming from the east side of Bellevue, try the new NE 10th Street overpass bridge.

RIGHT TURN STRATEGY: If The Bravern is your destination, make a right turn into garage entrances on 110th Avenue NE, NE 8th Street or 112th Avenue NE. If you’re traveling west on NE 8th, you can legally make a U-turn at the 110th Avenue NE intersection to get going in the “right” direction.

2+ PEOPLE: Arriving with friends or family in your car? Take advantage of the direct access ramp at NE 6th Street, as well as HOV lanes on I-405, I-90 and parts of SR-520.

ON-STREET PARKING: Park steps from the doors of your favorite shops in Old Bellevue for up to two hours.

WATCH FOR PEDESTRIANS: With so much going on downtown, even more people will be out and about on foot. Please use caution when making turns.

TRANSIT:Try the bus. Metro and Sound Transit provide many routes to the Downtown Bellevue Transit Center. Route and schedule information is available at metro.kingcounty.gov and soundtransit.org.

Have a holiday travel idea to share with other Choose Your Way Bellevue readers? Click on the “Add a Comment” link below this post to share your tip!

-Jordan

Before snow season—make sure to sign-up or bookmark these NEW tools to get timely updates:

• Sign-up to get Metro Transit Alerts by e-mail: www.kingcounty.gov/metro/signup
  Metro will send alerts about changes to service for bus routes you select.
• Visit the Metro Online Alerts Center: www.kingcounty.gov/metro/alerts
  Learn about changes to bus service because of snow or other disruptions. The “Snow & Ice” section has a new map showing where buses have been rerouted because of snow, a list of all rerouted buses and links to descriptions of snow routes. The map also has seven areas that will be color-coded to show how bus routes are operating (see example of map to the right). When online, look at the color of areas where you want to travel:

Green = Buses are operating on regular routes in that area.

Yellow = Some buses are on their planned snow routes. By clicking on a yellow area you can find out which buses have been rerouted. Another click will get you detailed information about your selected route.

Red = All buses in that area are on planned snow routes and some routes may be cancelled. By clicking on a red area you can learn which routes are cancelled and find links to more information about snow routes.

Blue = Metro has declared a snow emergency and has activated its Emergency Service Network (see more info below) of about 70 core routes, 8 of which would still travel through the Bellevue Transit Center.

• Save Metro’s Customer Information Office number: (206) 553-3000
  Metro’s customer information specialists will answer your questions about transit service. Interpreters are available. If you call during bad weather, wait times may be longer than usual, so consider using Metro Online and Metro Transit Alerts to get information faster—and free up phone lines for people without Web access.

When it snows:

• Before you travel, check weather reports and find out from Metro if your bus has been rerouted.
  To find the snow route for your bus, follow these steps: Go to Metro Online; Find “Get a Timetable” and enter your bus route number; Click on the “Route Map” button; The map will show the regular route and a dashed line for the snow route.
• Expect delays.
  Dress for the weather and prepare to wait longer at your bus stop. Travel times may be slower than normal.
  
• Know other bus routes or stops that would work for you if your regular service is delayed or rerouted.
  You may find more bus service on cleared arterials, at major transit hubs, and at park-and-ride lots.
  
• Keep in mind that Metro has limited ability to provide “real-time” bus information during severe weather.
  If buses are rerouted, Metro Online’s Tracker cannot provide precise information about bus locations or arrival and departure times. The online Trip Planner and timetables do not provide information about delayed or rerouted buses.
  
• If an extremely severe snowstorm occurs, Metro may activate its planned Emergency Service Network.
  Metro’s regular network of more than 220 bus routes would be completely replaced with an emergency service network of about 70 routes designed to be reliable in the worst weather. Only 8 of these buses would come through the Bellevue Transit Center. Metro would maintain this core service as long as roads are passable for buses. The Emergency Service Network would provide bus service on major roads and connecting service in some neighborhoods. Some areas would have no bus service because of their location or terrain. If Metro must activate the Emergency Service Network, they will notify customers the day before it goes into effect through Metro Online and Metro Transit Alerts.

-Jordan

Given the location of the world’s petroleum reserves, when Americans pull out their credit cards at the gas pump, they indirectly fund the economies of countries like Iran, Venezuela, Libya, Sudan, and not to mention Al Qaeda (whose financial backers include many who are in the fossil fuels business). Even if the oil sold in the US comes from Alaska, Texas or allies like Norway, American demand drives up the price of the commodity, thereby pumping huge flows of dollars into the treasuries of its enemies. If Americans start thinking about their dependence on oil as equivalent to providing assistance to our enemies, more citizens would be open to looking for and practicing alternatives.

Dujarric doesn’t believe we should throw out the environmental arguments altogether. He instead believes supporting them with a new patriotic message might do the trick to cutting down our oil consumption. What motivates and inspires you to decrease your carbon footprint? Is it saving endangered species and improving air quality or is it protecting US borders? Let us know your thoughts about the climate change debate by submitting a comment below. Also, be sure to calculate your own carbon footprint on our carbon emissions calculator. You may be surprised at what you find!

-Jordan

-Melissa

A magician will also be on hand at the transit center to entertain the Wednesday morning commuters. The magician will then ride the 564/565 Sound Transit routes through South King County, giving free CFL bulbs to bus passengers and at the Renton, Kent, and Auburn stations.

If you can’t make it Wednesday morning, or don’t ride the bus, don’t worry!  PSE customers can exchange up to 10 incandescent bulbs for free CFL bulbs at the remaining weekend Rock the Bulb events:

• Oct. 10-11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Auburn Lowe’s (1232 A Street N.E.)
• Oct. 17-18, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Puyallup Lowe’s (301 27th Ave S.E.)
• Oct. 24-25, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Lacey Lowe’s (5610 Corp Center Lane S.)
• Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.: Olympia Lowe’s (4230 Martin Way East)

-Jordan

Three times per year (September, February and June) King County Metro and Sound Transit make revisions to their bus service. The changes are made in order to adapt to our region’s population growth and economic conditions, the school year calendar, new road networks, and to keep bus trips as fast and convenient as possible.

Do you know if your bus route is part of the September 19 service change? Make sure to pick up your route’s new light purple timetable for more details, or visit the following websites to learn more about the specific changes:

• King County Metro Service Changes and Revisions
• Sound Transit Service Changes and Revisions

If you ride Community Transit or Pierce Transit also check their new schedules or refer to their websites.

-Jordan

Why have YOU Dumped the Pump?
• Saving your hard-earned cash?
• Helping to protect our environment?
• Is traffic is stressing you out?

Whatever the reason, you could win a year of free public transportation from Sound Transit by entering APTA’s Dump the Pump video contest. Simply to send a video explaining why you are “Dumping the Pump” and riding public transportation. Here’s how:

1. Create a video with your phone or digital camera and film yourself describing why you’re Dumping the Pump this summer. Get creative!

2. Upload your video to YouTube and make sure to tag your submission with “dump the pump.” APTA will find it and add it to the other videos at the Dump the Pump YouTube channel.

Here’s what you could win:
• Free public transportation from Sound Transit for one year if your video is chosen by APTA as having the most overall impact. Second place winner will receive six months of free transit. Third prize is three months of free transit.
• The first 25 individuals who submit a video entry to the contest will receive a $25 VISA cash card just for competing.

But hurry! APTA’s Dump the Pump contest ends September 18, 2009.

Learn more at Sound Transit’s Dump the Pump site.

See some of the videos that have already been submitted:

-Jordan

Delays – Bus travel times are expected to be delayed because all vehicles will be using the HOV express lanes across the lake into Seattle. This restriction does not end until you reach the west side of the Mount Baker Tunnel.

WSDOT anticipates delays will be most disruptive westbound from 6-11 a.m. and 3-7 p.m., or when there are major events in Seattle. Also, eastbound traffic in the afternoon is expected to be slower than normal, because there will be no HOV lanes in that direction across the lake until the project is completed. There could be related slowdowns on State Route 520, Interstate 405 and Interstate 5.

Metro will make every effort to add buses to maintain departure schedules on east-west routes across I-90. Still, bus travel times are expected to take longer than normal due to anticipated traffic delays and backups. Most buses serving the Eastside make multiple trips across the lake in a single day, and congestion on one leg of the trip will create ongoing delays for individual buses.

There are more than 19 Metro and Sound Transit bus routes operating in the I-90 corridor, including routes: 111, 114, 202, 205, 210, 211, 212, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 225, 229, 981, and 989, plus Sound Transit Express routes 550, 554, 555 and 556. But, the congestion could also delay other routes and transit service.

Bus travel is still a good option for crossing I-90. Transit service, vanpools and carpools will be subject to delays, but at least you help get one more car off the road and can relax while someone else does the driving.

Bus riders are encouraged to travel early in the commute if possible. Use existing schedules to plan your trip and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

Reroutes – Because westbound traffic congestion is expected to be severe, Metro is planning to reroute all Seattle-bound service that travels westbound on I-90 from Snoqualmie, Sammamish, Issaquah Highlands, Issaquah and Eastgate. This will have little impact on bus boarding locations, except for two inbound stops.

Westbound buses that are headed for the I-90 floating bridge will be routed off of I-90 at 142nd Place Southeast at Eastgate and re-enter near Bellevue Way. This will divert buses around several anticipated I-90 choke points and give them a queue jump onto Mercer Island.

Routes 111 and 114 coming from the Renton Highlands will also avoid some portions of I-90. Mercer Island routes 202 and 205 will have a short reroute on the island to enter I-90.

Eastgate boarding – The reroutes could cause some confusion for people who board buses either in the bays at the Eastgate Park-and-Ride or the Eastgate freeway station above I-90 just west of 142nd Place Southeast.

All buses that currently serve bays at the Eastgate Park-and-Ride will continue to do so. The bus routes detouring around Eastgate will not stop at the bays.

Two bus stops will not have Seattle service during the reroutes: the westbound Eastgate freeway station above I-90; and the stop southbound on 142nd Place Southeast near the Eastgate skybridge.

Passengers who use the westbound freeway station should board northbound on 142nd Place near the back entrance to Bellevue College. Watch for signs directing you to that stop, and please use caution crossing the street. The eastbound freeway station stop will have regular service.

The buses serving the southbound 142nd Place stop will board all passengers in the bays on the main level of the Eastgate Park-and-Ride.

South Bellevue traffic – Many routes will be detouring without stopping through the bus lanes at the South Bellevue Park-and-Ride in order to access I-90. But, only the regularly scheduled service will board passengers there.

Both pedestrians and motorists are urged to use caution traveling to and from the South Bellevue lot because of the increased traffic.

Other disruptions – Bus passengers should be aware of other projects and events that could slow I-90 bus service from July 5-20.

The city of Seattle continues repaving Second Avenue in the central business district. Most of the I-90 routes travel on Second Avenue when leaving Seattle, and continue to experience delays downtown particularly during the afternoon commute.

I-90 routes that normally use the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel will be affected by closures of the tunnel due to preparations to start up Link light rail service. The tunnel will be closed to all transit at 7 p.m. each night from July 6-10, and then closed to buses on the weekend of July 18 and 19.

Special events in Seattle are expected to attract more westbound I-90 traffic July 6-12 for the Mariners, July 11 and 18 for the Sounders soccer matches, July 18-19 for the opening of light rail, and July 17-19 for the Bite of Seattle.

NEW TOOLS – Both WSDOT and Metro are offering new tools for tracking travel conditions during the I-90 lane closures.

King County’s “Eye on Your Metro Commute” offers commute-time updates on transit disruptions Monday through Friday from 6-9 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. For more significant widespread disruptions, Metro customers can subscribe to KCMetro-Alerts.

WSDOT recently added new tools to its Web site to help drivers plan their commutes and help avoid severe congestion on Puget Sound freeways in July. They include new traffic cameras, estimated travel times, travel-planning guides, and real-time traffic updates.