We would like to thank all of you who rode the Holiday Zipper and especially those who completed and returned a survey providing valuable feedback. This information is extremely benefical and allows us to make future Zippers even more successful.

Everyone who returned a completed survey was entered into a random drawing for a $25 Target gift card.

The winner has been chosen and her name is Lori Martucciello of Heidelberg, USA. Lori is shown here on the right with her Transportation Coordinator, Sharon Wilmot.

Congratulations!!!

2006 had many winners! Most recently, all of those who rode the Holiday Zipper!

Winning the $500 Shopping Spree Grand Prize, was one of CobbRides’ vanpool riders, Alfreda Yarbrough of TSYS. Alfreda (on left) is shown receiving congratulations from her Transportation Coordinator, Bonda Chapman. (Note: Bonda is one of our outstanding TCs- see next article for details.)

The following folks each earned a surprise gift for riding the Holiday Zipper at least six days:

Sherry Kruger, Heidelberg

Stephanie Lamb, Green Tree Servicing

Priscilla Leach, Wheelers

Judy Millwood, Green Tree Servicing

John Smith, Wheelers

Pam Kirkpatrick, ORIX

Tamika Little, JP Morgan Chase

Some of our Transportation Coordinators consistently do an outstanding job of promoting the CobbRides programs to their employees.

These individuals have shown that they believe the programs of CobbRides help our environment, relieve congestion, and provide true benefits to their employees.

Kudus to the following, who have each been awarded a $25 gift certificate of appreciation:

Bonda Chapman of TSYS

Tracey Childs of CareCentric (Tracey is seen here on the left posing with Sue Short, CobbRides Outreach Coordinator.)

To better serve passengers, CCT is replacing the old fare boxes with the new fare system, referred to as the Breeze System.

In addition to supporting existing magnetic card fare media, the system will support MARTA's new smart card fare collection system. MARTA has converted completely to the Breeze System and has eliminated the use of tokens.

Therefore, CCT will no longer accept MARTA tokens beginning Monday, Jan. 15th. CCT passengers can continue to pay with cash or a CCT magnetic ticket.

Once CCT has fully converted to the Breeze System, CCT riders must have a Breeze card or ticket in order to transfer free to and from MARTA. Currently, MARTA is offering free Breeze cards through web-based ordering at www.breezecard.com and by mail-in application.

Remember, CobbRides offers a 30% discount on CCT passes! Contact Sue@CobbRides.com.

Why carpool? You can save time, money and share the driving duties.

On average, metro Atlantans spend more than 66 minutes* daily just driving to and from work. That is more than five hours each week.

Carpooling can drastically cut the money you spend on gas and car maintenance.

It is more than just the cost of gas. According to AAA, the cost for owning and operating an average size car is 52.2 cents per mile**, when driven 15,000 miles per year.

If you drive in metro Atlanta, that means driving alone to and from work is costing you more than $15 every day, or over $330 each month. That does not include extras like parking costs.

Get in touch with CobbRides to learn more.

The Georgia Department of Transportation published a list of projects in mid-December that would not receive state funding for the next six years. For the Town Center Area CID, this was disappointing news.

Meanwhile, traffic congestion on Barrett Parkway continues to thrive.

The TCACID has completed preliminary engineering on the Big Shanty Connector, Noonday Creek Trail and the South Barrett Reliever (phase I).

The TCACID board will analyze the priorities of the projects and fund those projects which will show the greatest relief and benefit to the area.

At this time, it appears that project will be the Big Shanty Connector which will connect Chastain Meadows to Barrett Lakes Blvd, giving relief to Chastain Road and Barrett Parkway.