Flexcar Partners With Tower Companies to Build a Better Environment; Companies to Add Car-Sharing Program to The Blairs Apartments in Silver Spring
WASHINGTON--April 17, 2002--Flexcar, the nation's oldest and largest car-sharing company, and The Tower Companies, one of the nation's leading environmental real estate developers, have partnered to bring Flexcar's car sharing program to residents at The Blairs Apartments in Silver Spring (Md).The program includes the placement of two Honda Civic sedans onsite at The Blairs on April 20, which will be available for use by residents of the Blairs who are Flexcar members.
Flexcar's innovative program provides members with access to a fleet of vehicles located throughout several metropolitan areas. Members reserve the vehicles for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance. Members pay only for the time they use the car, and pay nothing when they don't. Flexcar's Washington, D.C. metro operations includes a fleet of more than 30 vehicles, located primarily at Metrorail stations in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland through its strong partnership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
"Flexcar's program is a great fit for our residents, as well as The Tower Companies commitment to building a better environment," said The Tower Companies President and CEO Jeffrey Abramson. "For residents, it provides them another amenity -- access to a car without the cost of ownership. For The Tower Companies, it further demonstrates our devotion to environmental stewardship and building sustainable communities."
"The Tower Companies is a forward-thinking company," said Flexcar President and CEO Neil Peterson. "The addition of Flexcar to the resident amenities at The Blairs will allow more efficient use of parking spaces and structures while giving residents a great mobility option. Their Flexcar membership not only gives them access to the cars at The Blairs, but to the entire fleet in the region."
For more than 40 years, The Blairs have been one of Greater Washington, DC's premier apartment communities. Today, The Blairs communities is seven buildings on 27 park-like acres, and includes 1,300 apartment homes. Recently, The Blairs underwent a $22 million renovation, making it even more luxurious and accommodating for residents.
Following a successful European model, Flexcar launched its Seattle operations in 2000, and has since won numerous awards and commendations for its program that reduces congestion, reduces air pollution, reduces energy use, increases use of public transit and contributes to sustainable communities. Used in conjunction with public transit, car/vanpools and walking/biking, car-sharing can meet an individual's transportation needs in an economic and environmentally responsible manner, giving them the freedom of car ownership without the cost and hassles. Flexcar operates similar programs in the Portland (Ore.), Vancouver (Wash.)
In addition to serving individuals, Flexcar offers Business Membership Plans that allow companies and organizations to augment or replace the need for fleet vehicles. Flexcar works with property managers to place Flexcar vehicles in convenient locations in downtown buildings. Employees of Flexcar Business Members can access the vehicles for meetings, errands or other business needs; the company is billed with a simple monthly invoice for only the amount of time the vehicle is used. Companies are using Flexcar to reduce their monthly fleet costs, to achieve commute reduction goals, or simply to provide a benefit to employees.
The Tower Companies
The Tower Companies has created socially responsible and environmentally conscious buildings and communities for the Greater Washington, D.C. area since 1947. The Tower Companies strive to create a metro community based not just on inspiring architecture, but built on deeper foundations of charity, patronage and world peace.
Flexcar
Flexcar's innovative car-sharing program provides its 5,000 members convenient access to a fleet of new and fuel-efficient cars located across metropolitan regions. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or repairs. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's modern fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids and specialty vehicles including pickups. Members can access a Flexcar in any of the following metropolitan areas: Seattle, Portland (Ore.), and Washington, D.C. Metro. Other regions will be added in 2002. Flexcar is a privately held company that has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Parsons Transportation Group and American Honda Co.
Editor's Note: Correct spelling and punctuation of name is "Flexcar"; not FlexCar or Flex Car.