County Providing Free Flexcar Car-Sharing to Everyone Who Lives and Works in Arlington
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| Car-Sharing Program Designed to Increase Transit Ridership and Reduce Traffic |
In an unprecedented effort to reduce traffic congestion, increase transit ridership and provide mobility options to everyone who lives and works in the area, Arlington County, next Tuesday, March 23, will team up with Flexcar, the nation's oldest and largest provider of car-sharing programs, to introduce the Arlington Carshare Pilot Project Program. Sponsored by Arlington County Commuter Services, this year-long program will provide any qualified resident of, or person who works anywhere in Arlington County the chance to join Flexcar for free (a $25 value) and will give them each a $35 vehicle usage credit to get started. Arlington businesses also will receive incentives to sign-up their employees.
Flexcar already has begun adding vehicles to the area, more than doubling the size of its fleet in the County. While Flexcar currently has vehicles stationed in East Falls Church and Crystal City, among others, these new vehicles will be clustered in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, spanning Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon, Court House and Rosslyn. The vehicles will be parked in specially-designated on-street spots to provide maximum visibility for residents, employees and businesses. Several others will be stationed side by side near Metrorail stations in Ballston and Court House.
"Over the last several years, Arlington County has led the way throughout the nation in the creation of urban villages and pedestrian-friendly communities," said Tim Vogel, general manager of Flexcar's DC Metro area operations. "By adding Flexcar to the mix through the Arlington Carshare program, the county is helping extend its reach and adding a new dimension to personal mobility."
Arlington's urban villages are mixed-use neighborhoods that are well served by Arlington's public transportation system and afford people the ability to walk or bicycle to shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and to hop on Metrorail, Metrobus or ART when they need to head outside the community.
Flexcar, which has been an official partner of Metro for more than two years, is an innovative program that provides individuals and businesses with access to its fleet of vehicles located throughout the tri-state region. Members reserve the vehicles via the Web or touch-tone phone for hourly use, with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance and maintenance. Members access the cars via a specially-coded keycard, and pay hourly or discounted monthly rates for use of the vehicles. The company currently has more than 5,000 members in the region and nearly 20,000 nationwide.
Membership surveys show that Flexcar members ride public transportation, combine trips, and either sell or avoid buying a car, which can help benefit Arlington's environment and traffic congestion problems.
"We see car-sharing as a major step to meet the needs of our citizens and people who work in Arlington County," said Chris Hamilton, commuter services manager for Arlington County. "If we can help provide that service through partnering with private car-sharing groups, then we can say at the end of the day that we've put solutions in place that are helping our community and our people, and that's something we're very proud of."
The Arlington Carshare Pilot Project Program is scheduled to last one year and will be reevaluated at that time.
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, air pollution and energy use, while increasing use of public transportation and contributing to sustainable communities. Used in conjunction with public transit, car/vanpools and walking/biking, car-sharing helps individuals meet their transportation needs in an economic and environmentally responsible manner, giving them the freedom of car ownership without the associated cost and hassles.
People interested in becoming members can join online at www.flexcar.com, or call 202-296-1359 for more information.
Flexcar
Headquartered in Seattle, Flexcar now operates car-sharing programs for more than 19,000 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in 5 states and the District of Columbia. 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, electric cars and specialty vehicles including pickups and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with King County (Wash.) Metro Transit, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Parsons Transportation Group, Bristol Bay Native Corporation and American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
Editor's Note: Correct spelling and punctuation is "Flexcar"; not FlexCar, Flex-car, Flex Car or Flexicar.