The GWRideConnect program receives $569,754 in total annual funding from various sources including state and federal grants. It aims to promote transportation alternatives to driving alone through services like vanpool and carpool matching, vanpool subsidies, and employer outreach. In FY2010, over 10,000 people received assistance through the program, which currently supports 392 vanpools removing nearly 1.5 million vehicle miles traveled annually.

2. GWRideConnect Program Funding
Transportation Demand Management Grant
Department of Rail & Public Transportation
FY 2011: $355,803 plus 20% local match of $88,951
Total: $444,754
CMAQ funding : $125,000
Total program funding : $569,754

3. GWRideConnect Program Scope
TDM Agency operated by the GWRC Commission
that serves the residents of Planning District 16.
GWRideConnect promotes ridesharing and TDM
techniques to assist citizens seeking transportation
options to workplaces and other destinations.
Program Goal: to promote, plan and establish
transportation alternatives to the single occupant
vehicle, improving air quality, reducing congestion &
improving quality of life.

4. GWRideConnect Program Services
Free Matching Program – assists thousands of
residents matching them to existing transit and
transportation providers
Transportation Options – provide and promote
transportation options and solutions to residents
GWRideConnect Website – Provides information
on all types of transportation alternatives with links
to Bus Companies, VRE and Metro

5. GWRideConnect Program Services
 Vanpool Program - Facilitates the formation of new
vanpools and maintains the existing fleet of 392 vanpools
 Van Start – Start up financial assistance for qualifying new
vanpools in the region funded through CMAQ.
 Van Save – Provides financial assistance for vanpools in
danger of ceasing operation. Funded through the
GWRideConnect program, 17 vans have been saved this year
totaling $9,648 (12 to NOVA, 5 to NSWC)

6. GWRideConnect Program Services
AVANtage Self-Insurance Pool Program –
operated by GWRideConnect and the Division of Risk
Management for all vanpools in the State. Vanpool
operators self-insure themselves with premiums
paid into the pool.
 This program saves vanpool operators thousands of
dollars per year and provides up to $14-million more
liability protection than previous insurance programs.
 Currently 180 vanpools are participating in the
program, most from GWRC.

7. GWRideConnect Program Services
National Transit Database Vanpool Incentive
Program – a multi-regional program investigating
the feasibility of vanpool reporting transit data to
the NTD.
 Reporting vanpool ridership data would generate
additional 5307 funds for vanpool incentive programs
and for the region
 Program increases the number of vanpools in the
region and reduces the number of cars
 Each reporting van has the earning potential of
$10,930 per year

8. GWRideConnect Program Services
 Carpool Program – Facilitate the formation of formal
carpools, provide assistance and facilitate the continuation of
instant carpooling.
 Commuter Buses / Local Transit – Assist and promote
commuter buses in the region and continue to support and
promote FRED Transit
 VRE / METRO – Assist and promote the VRE and the Metro
system. Help educate residents on how to utilize these
systems and use as a resource instead of driving alone.

9. GWRideConnect Program Services
 Commuter Parking Lots – promote and monitor existing
commuter lots and help plan for new commuter lots in the
region.
 GWRideBoard – located on the GwRideConnect Website,
the GWRideBoard is a place to post rides that are needed
locally and is also a place to look for a rider going your way.
 Telework – Information on Telework, Telework!Va and will
soon have information on the new Telework tax credits for
businesses anywhere in Virginia

10. GWRideConnect Program Services
Employer Outreach – Work with employers in
region to help establish TDM techniques at their
worksites and assist with established programs
 NSWC – largest employer program in region with 49
vanpools removing over 400 vehicles daily.
 GEICO, Germanna Community College, Regional Hospitals
Realtor Outreach – Work with realtors in each
locality to educate them about the program and
provide them with Rideshare packets for new
residents

11. GWRideConnect Program Advertising
Advertising Techniques to promote
GWRideConnect
 Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer campaigns that use
print media and radio advertising in every locality
 Print media used throughout year
 Highway signs
 GWRideConnect Website – Comprehensive
informational source for transportation options in the
region, averaging 1,500 hits per month

12. GWRideConnect Program Data FY 10
 New applicants 2,342
 Applicants assisted 1,167
 New vanpools formed 36
 Vanpools Assisted 1,295
 Applicant surveys 3,196
 Vanpool surveys 326
 Commuter/FRED Bus dist 1,737
 VRE information dist. 1,356
More than 10,000 people received assistance
in FY 2010

13. GWRideConnect Current Data
392 Existing Vanpools:
 Transport 4,704 persons daily / 1,176,000 annually
 Reduce 7,769 work trips daily / 1,942,250 annually
 Reduce 466,124 vehicle miles traveled daily
 Reduce 116,531,000 vehicle miles traveled annually
 Saves 23,306 gallons of gasoline daily
 Saves 5,826,000 gallons of gasoline annually

14. GWRideConnect Current Data
All Services (Vanpools, Carpools and Buses):
 Transport 5,844 persons daily / 1,461,000 annually
 Reduce 9,789 work trips daily / 2,447,250 annually
 Reduce 587,324 vehicle miles traveled daily
 Reduce 146,831,000 vehicle miles traveled annually
 Saves 29,366 gallons of gasoline daily
 Saves 7,341,500 gallons of gasoline annually