Winter 2001-2002
Inside this issue
2nd annual CobbRides holiday shuttle
Noonday Creek

Light Rail/HOV

New tax benefits

Grand prize winner
“…employees will rideshare if it is safe, convenient and affordable.”
Susie Erath, CobbRides Outreach Coordinator
Through the sponsorship of the Town Center Area CID, Town Center Mall, AMLI and Taylor & Mathis, CobbRides was able to provide six vans that serviced office parks partnered with CobbRides during the holiday season.

An aggregate of ridership numbers and surveys taken from riders has been given to GRTA to support the need for a circulator system in the Town Center area. A permanent system would offer more stops and service more areas than the seasonal Holiday Shuttle.

At the present time, it appears that GRTA may be the purchasing agent for the buses. The expense for operating the buses has not been defined. However, federal and state money could possibly support the operation.

The master plan for the metro area transportation improvements calls for vanpools and carpools and other alternative modes of transportation. Offering a circulator system in the Town Center area would give freedom to those who participate in an alternative transportation mode.
CobbRides and the Town Center Area CID are working with GRTA, CCT and Cobb County DOT to establish a permanent circulator system in the Town Center area. The data collected from holiday shuttle helps support the need for a circulator system.
The heaviest congestion occurs during the midday hours between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. CobbRides hopes that by instituting a circulator system, more employees will consider ridesharing.

Courteous service with a smile…
CobbRides Holiday Shuttle Service
The Town Center Area CID (TCACID) is a self-taxing district created by legislation
passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 1985.

The TCACID is governed by a seven member board of directors. Six directors are elected by the membership and one is appointed by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. All directors are designated appointees of the TCACID property owners.

There are 156 property owners representing 257 parcels of property with a value of close to $600,000,000. There are some 1,800 employers and approximately 45,000 jobs in the Town Center area which is only about 55% built out. To date, the TCACID has committed $3,512,021 toward transportation improvements in the Town Center area.

Light rail included in the TIP

The 2002-2004 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes $55 million to be used for light rail service between the Cumberland and Town Center activity centers. Once complete, the line will offer regional connection with midtown Atlanta.

The Town Center Area CID and the Cumberland CID have jointly funded an implementation plan for the Cobb County portion of the light rail. The plan also incorporates the east bound rail study from Marietta to Lawrenceville. Governor Barnes has committed $2.8 billion for the light rail project.Light Rail included in the TIP

HOV lanes coming to Cobb

Also in the 2002-2004 TIP, the Georgia Department of Transportation plans to install 29 miles of HOV lanes along I-75 from I-285 to Wade Green Road. HOV lanes have also been approved along I-575 from I-75 to Sixes Road in Cherokee County. Follow these projects at www.CobbRides.com.

Town Center Area Community Improvement District (CID)
“Incorporating a natural habitat into our urban setting and keeping its esthetic value”
Mason Zimmerman presenting the Noonday Creek study to the North Cobb Chamber of Commerce breakfast
Town Center, a pedestrian
friendly activity center

If the Town Center Area CID has its way, an alternative mode of transportation will be walking or biking. Mason Zimmerman, Vice President of the CID is spear heading the Noonday Creek project which will develop pathways along the creek right of way.

Noonday Creek runs east/west through the Town Center area from Bells Ferry to Cobb Parkway and between Chastain Road and Barrett Parkway. The CID has done a preliminary study to determine whether or not the project would be feasible.

Results show that the project would not only enhance the creek bed and give pedestrians an esthetic pathway, it would serve as another option to move around the Town Center area.

An engineering contract will be awarded this spring. Follow the progress at www.CobbRides.com.
David Hirschler, winner of the $500 drawing donated by Town Center at Cobb Mall
Congratulations
David Hirschler, Respironics
winner of the $500.00 drawing
Town Center at Cobb Mall offered a $500 shopping spree as the grand prize drawing during the CobbRides Holiday Shuttle. Every time a rider rode the shuttle they were allowed to fill out an entry for the drawing.

On Friday, December 21st, David Hirschler was notified that he was the winner. David rode the shuttle six times. While he admitted that the $500 drawing was a great incentive, he said that riding the shuttle was simply a great way to get to the mall for lunch and shopping during the holidays without the hassle of traffic and parking. He commented on the speed and comfort of the ride, how friendly the drivers were and that he never worried about getting left behind..
When asked what his first purchased was, David replied, “My wife and I decided to make Christmas better for someone who could not afford it. We donated the entire prize to the Lutheran Ministries of Georgia, a charity that helps the needy.”
Did you know…
Did you know…
As of January 1, 2002, America’s workforce has the opportunity to commute to the office more effectively. Employers are now able to offer their employees up to $100 per month in pre-tax commuting benefits, a boost from $65 previously allowed under the federal tax code and made possible by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.

Under federal tax laws, the benefit is available 3 ways:

1) as a tax-free, employer-paid benefit of up to $100 a month to the employee, where the employer receives a tax deduction for the expense and saves on payroll-related taxes;

2) as employee-paid pre-tax benefit, where employers allow employees to set aside up to $100 a month of pre-tax income, and;

3) as a shared cost arrangement where employers provide a portion of public transportation or vanpooling as a tax-free benefit and allow the employee to set aside pre-tax income to pay for the remaining amount of the benefit (up to the specified limits).		 You can get a ride home if you are ridesharing–
CobbRides provides a Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) to commuters who regularly vanpool, carpool, bike, walk or take transit with a reliable ride home when unexpected work or personal emergency arises. For more information, contact Susie@CobbRides.com or 678.493.9576.


Web-Knowledge -
Do you reach for your mouse instead of the phone when it comes to getting
information?

www.CobbRides.com has a new look and new information, you will find –

In the News - offering you a library of articles and publications regarding transportation issues, both local and national
In the Works - offers a calendar of events and fairs for 2002
The CID page - gives information on transportation improvements in the Town Center area
The Benefits page - provides information on commuter and employer programs
offered by CobbRides
The Links page - takes you directly to CCT Routes, Cobb DOT and many other informative websites
New for 2002, on the home page is a live camera of Barrett Parkway that links to Georgia Navigator -

Cruise www.CobbRides.com for your
transportation needs!
CobbRides and the Clean Air Campaign
The Clean Air Campaign offers seminars and programs on a metro-wide level to employers and employees interested in implementing ridesharing programs. CobbRides promotes the Clean Air Campaign program on a local basis with their partners during the Smog Season - May 1 - September 30th.


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