The Cumberland Commuter

October 2007

IN THIS EDITION...

The Cumberland
Commuter is a
monthly resource
published by
Commuter Club.

Congratulations to PACE Awards Finalists

The Clean Air Campaign will host the 2007 PACE Awards on Thursday, Oct. 18 to recognize metro Atlanta’s outstanding workplaces for commuters. Finalists from the Cumberland Galleria include Chairman Tad Leithead for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner’s Award; Cousins Properties Inc. for the PACE Starter Award; and Steve West from Worldspan as a Commuter Champion.

Tad Leithead is Chairman of the Cumberland Community Improvement District and Senior Vice President of Development at Cousins Properties. Tad is a tireless advocate for transportation improvements and encourages metro Atlantans to use commute alternatives. Congratulations Tad!

Cousins relocated to downtown Atlanta in April. Cousins worked with Commuter Club and the Downtown TMA to create a comprehensive commute analysis on each employee affected by the move to determine how their drive to work would change. In addition, Cousins implemented a number of commute alternatives and incentives to offer employees. They are a finalist for the PACE Starter Award. Congratulations Cousins!

Steve West is a finalist in the Commuter Champion category. Steve drives a vanpool from Tyrone in Fayette County to Worldspan in the Cumberland Galleria — that’s 72 miles round trip. According to AAA estimates, since Steve started his vanpool in 2001, he has saved nearly $60,000! Steve is an avid vanpool supporter, regularly recruiting new riders and helping grow Commuter Club’s program. Congratulations Steve!

Congratulations to all PACE Awards finalists. Commuter Club has limited seating available for partners who are interested in attending the PACE Awards. If you’d like to join us at the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday, Oct. 18 at noon, please e-mail Gail Bailey or call 770-859-2331 as soon as possible to reserve your seat.

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Commuter Club and J.M Huber Recognized for Programs

The Association for Commuter Transportation hosted their annual international conference in Seattle, Wash. in September. Commuter Club was proud to bring home two finalist awards: Outstanding TMA & Creative Excellence under $7,500. This is possible thanks to all of our supporters and participants. A Commuter Club partner, Scottie O’Toole with J.M. Huber Corporation, also took home a finalist award from this prestigious association. Scottie O’Toole was recognized nationally as an outstanding transportation coordinator. Congratulations to Scottie O’Toole and J.M. Huber Corporation!

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Don’t be Spooked by Traffic This Halloween

Thoughts of Halloween conjure images of scary costumes, lots of candy and…traffic. Rush hour starts earlier on Halloween as parents head home to trick-or-treat with their children. Don’t let the Halloween traffic scare you this year. Consider trying an alternative commute like vanpooling, carpooling or mass transit this Oct. 31 and you’ll still be in the spirit by the time you get home.

Halloween safety tips:

• Be extra cautious when pulling in and out of driveways, even in areas that don’t normally have many pedestrians.
• Watch out for children who may run across the street, and pay close attention to children who may walk between parked cars and into traffic.
• Look closely for children who may be wearing dark colors without reflectors.

Contact Commuter Club today and make your plans to try a commute alternative this Halloween. Leave the spooking to the ghosts and goblins, not the traffic.

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Metro Atlanta Ranks Second in the Country for Worst Traffic

Ever wonder how metro Atlanta’s traffic ranks when compared to other large U.S. cities? A new study released in September 2007 by the Texas Transportation Institute ranks Atlanta second in the country for worst traffic, only behind Los Angeles. Fortunately, working in the Cumberland Galleria provides you with many opportunities to avoid traffic, or at least avoid some of the stress associated with the wasted time sitting in traffic. According to the Texas Transportation Institute’s 2007 study, American drivers spend 4.2 billion hours each year in traffic delays resulting in $78 billion of lost productivity and wasted fuel. If you work in the Cumberland Galleria, let Commuter Club help you find a way to save time and money. Commuter Club can work with your employer to implement telework and flextime programs, and can help individuals identify commute alternatives such as taking mass transit, carpooling or riding in a vanpool. Don’t waste another minute sitting in traffic alone on your way to or from work; contact Commuter Club today!

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Congratulations to Commuter Club’s September Commuter Rewards Winners!

Don’t miss your chance to win; sign up for Commuter Rewards today!

Sign up and log your commute to join this list of Commuter Rewards winners, who have an extra $25 in their pockets. You increase your chances of winning a $25 Visa gift card the more times you log your commute, and all commuters can participate. If you are a vanpooler or carpooler, sign up today; the chances are 1-in-10 that you’ll be a winner. Don’t miss your chance to win free money!

Winners may pick up prizes Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce located at 240 Interstate North Parkway, or provide a mailing address to Meredith Clinton by Oct. 31.

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Sign Up for Commuter Club and Win Free Gas!

Commuter Club continues in our quest to deliver the exclusive feeling of “gas price euphoria” to as many commuters in the Cumberland Galleria area as possible. During the past month, commuters have been testing their luck to find relief at the pump by winning free gas cards. Because of the campaign’s popularity, Commuter Club is now extending the opportunity to new commuters! If you haven’t registered for the Gas Price Euphoria campaign, sign up today while supplies last. When you register you will receive information and assistance on how you can split the cost of commuting to work, as well as two chances to win a single-month, six-months, or even a year’s worth of free gas.

Are you already registered with Commuter Club? Send this message to your friends and family who work in the Cumberland Galleria area for their chance to win. Tell us who you sent the Gas Price Euphoria information to for your chance to win more prizes.

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Love Your Ride to Work? These Commuters Do!

Hesitant to try a commute alternative? Maybe you’re unsure about riding to work every day with people you don’t know. Maybe you think it’s too much hassle. Vanpool 24564 is proof that commuting can not only save you money, but it can be fun too!

Noel, Karen, Sarah, Gurmeet, Arlene, Lisa and Debbie have dubbed themselves the “Charlie’s Angels” of the vanpool world. Corey, aka Bosley, is their lone male rider. Although they may not be fighting evil, they still have a good time, often sharing recipes, gossip and shopping tips.

Noel Thomas, primary driver for her group, enjoys feeling less ’auto-dependent.’ Not only is she sparing her personal vehicle from miles of wear and tear and saving money, but Noel says she now has more quality time at home because of participating in the vanpool.

“I wish more people would wake up to the idea that they don’t need their own car every day,” Noel said. “Even if you ride the van four out of five days a week, it’s worth it. People need to start thinking globally, change some habits and do what they can to save our environment.” Spoken like a true angel.

Visit www.commuterclub.com and find a commute alternative that works for you. Try a vanpool, start a carpool or look into mass transit. It’s easier than you think, and will help save you money.

We want to hear from you!

If you love your commute alternative — whether vanpooling, carpooling, taking mass transit, teleworking or flextime — e-mail us and let us know! You may be featured in an upcoming e-Newsletter.

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