RTD is requesting public input on a proposed service plan for US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) between Boulder and Denver, which will be implemented in early 2016 – and on the results of their Fare Study to restructure fares District-wide.
Per our annual member survey data we know that over 80% of eGo CarShare members use the RTD transit system on a regular basis, so we encourage you to stay informed about RTD’s proposed service and fare changes which would take effect January 1, 2016. To get involved please review the info and links below and then ATTEND one of the upcoming public meetings throughout the Metro area to make your voice heard. NOW is the time to give your input to RTD about this important and impactful issue. Having an affordable, robust, and equitable transit system is essential to meeting our community’s sustainability and equity goals.
We applaud RTD for listening to, and incorporating, public input into this process. RTD staff and board members ARE listening, so it’s up to us to make our voices heard so they will know how the fares should be structured to best meet the needs of ALL riders. We should all recognize that fares will need to be set within the context of certain fiscal constraints to ensure RTD remains financially solvent, but your input will help ensure that RTD’s new fare structure and pricing will meet the public’s needs.
We strongly encourage you to attend a public hearing, but if you can’t make it to any of the meeting dates you can submit written comments about these issues to RTD. Send an e-mail (by April 8, 2015) to [email protected], and also Cc your RTD Director. Don’t know who your RTD representative is? Lookup your Director here.
2016 Proposed Fare Changes
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Fare Changes Public Meetings (partial list):
Denver: Wed, March 25 at Noon, and Wed, April 8 at 6:30pm, RTD Offices, 1600 Blake Street
Longmont: Wed, April 1 at 6:30pm, Longmont Public Library
Boulder: Monday, April 6 at 6 p.m., Boulder Public Library
Check the complete list of public meetings to find the one nearest you.
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Primary Concerns/Recommendations:
Concern: The proposed changes to both the fare structure and fees are very significant and therefore are worthy of careful contemplation. Currently RTD staff have set a very aggressive timeline to make it through this public input process. Public input sessions end on April 8th, and the RTD board is slated to vote on whether or not to adopt the staff recommendations on April 21st. Eight (8) business days is not enough time to allow staff to thoughtfully consolidate and reflect upon the input they will receive during all 16 fare study public hearings.
Recommendation: Ask RTD to take at least one more month to thoughtfully consider and incorporate all public input they receive throughout March and April before they present their final proposal to the RTD board.
——
Concern: Significant fare increases (10-32%) will make transit unaffordable for many low-income riders.
Recommendation: Offer a 50% discounted fare for riders with incomes of $35,000 or less. Check out the novel affordable fare program Seattle (King County) just instituted!
——
Concern: Currently the monthly Local Pass price is $79; RTD is proposing to increase it to $104 – this is a 32% increase! 53% of weekday bus passengers are “transit dependent” due to not owning a vehicle (because of having a mental or physical disability that prevented operating a vehicle, or not having a valid driver’s license). Meanwhile only 25% of light rail riders are “transit dependent” and RTD is proposing to decrease the majority of light rail fares by 35-48%. These proposed changes raise very significant equity concerns. Low-income riders will be hit much harder by these proposed fare increases than mid-to-high income riders.
Recommendation: Institute a 50% discounted fare for low-income riders and keep the monthly pass fare increases in step with the other fare increases. To keep them at a 12% increase they should be priced at:
Local = $88; Express = $153; Regional = $187.
——
Concern: RTD is still working on getting their SmartCard system to be fully functional. Without functions such as “accumulator” functionality, the boarding and payment process will be very time intensive and prone to error.
Recommendation: Ask RTD to prioritize the effort to make their SmartCards smart! Advances in their SmartCard and Prepaid fare card system would solve a lot of issues. It would significantly cut down on boarding times as it would eliminate the need for prepaid card users to be issued a “Day Pass” from the driver when they board, and it would reduce the chances of riders being overcharged for trips. Ask RTD to make technology improvements a priority now so the SmartCard technology is fully functional as of January 1, 2016 – when the fare changes go into effect.
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Proposed US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service Plan Meetings:
Boulder: Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m., Boulder Public Library
Denver: Monday, April 13 at Noon, RTD Offices, 1600 Blake Street
Click here for a complete list of meetings about the US 36 BRT.
Highlights about the US 36 BRT “Flatiron Flyer” proposed service plan:
What we like about RTD’s current proposal:
- Offering the BV (All-Station stops route) at a local $2.60 fare. The Express route (with minimal stops) would be $5.50 one-way.
- Increased frequency of 15-minute All-Station service mid-day and 10-minute Express route frequency during peak commute times.
The City of Boulder, in partnership with the US 36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition (MCC) and 36 Commuting Solutions, has reviewed RTD’s proposed changes and has provided their recommendations.
Summary Concerns/Recommendations:
Concerns:
- The US 36 corridor is not receiving an equitable share of FasTracks investment dollars. Disproportionately more funding is being spent on other FasTracks corridors.
- The US 36 Bus Rapid Transit service plan includes reductions in trip frequency and the elimination of some existing service in Boulder.
- As currently proposed, Mid-day Express service between Downtown Boulder and Denver Union Station would be eliminated. Additionally the Express route would not make stops along the CU campus in Boulder, thus requiring CU riders to make a transfer in order to travel between CU and Denver. The Express “Flatiron Flyer” bus to and from Denver (as currently proposed) would only stop at the Transit Center and Table Mesa.
- The new buses serving the US 36 corridor will carry fewer bicycles.
Recommendations:
- We believe the corridor deserves operational support from RTD similar to the FasTracks funded light rail corridors in Denver, especially given the substantial level of public investment in the managed lanes.
- Retain mid-day Express service along the corridor and include stops at CU and the Hill. In particular an Express route stop should be included on Broadway at 16th Street, as that stop was specifically enlarged a few years ago as part of the City’s “FasTracks Local Optimization” initiative to make room for the additional (and larger) BRT vehicles.
- Incorporate other recommendations provided by the US 36 MCC and 36 Commuting Solutions.
Thanks for Your Valuable Feedback!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2015 Annual Member Survey! Over 300 members took the time to give us their very valuable feedback. Our net promoter score showed that overwhelmingly the majority of you would recommend eGo to friends! We greatly appreciate your input and are always open to hearing about what you love about eGo CarShare and what we can improve on. We couldn’t do this without you so thank you!
One of the biggest areas of feedback was regarding location and convenience. We will certainly let you know when we are able to add in more new locations and we have recorded all of your helpful location suggestions! Quite a few of you requested Longmont locations- we hope you know about the pilot program we have at in Longmont with one car at Casa Esperanza 1520 South Emery Street (SE corner of Hwy 287 & Pike) and a new location at the RTD ParknRide at 8th and Coffman. They are vehicles # 301 and #302 in our reservation system.
Know someone who could use them? The first 25 Longmont residents, workers or businesses to apply join FREE with promo Longmont2015 or refer a friend with the promo FOM2015 and they get $10 off their application and you get a $10 credit!
Your desires to have access to an app, improved mobile reservation options, and real-time billing mirror our own! We have been working with our software provider to develop all of these services for some time now. We will be moving to a different software platform in 2016 and we hope the new software will allow us to bring you those services which will greatly improve your user experience!
Some of you expressed a desire to be able to pick up and return cars to different spots. The foremost question we examine before making any changes to our service is, “Is this in alignment with our mission?” The positive impacts on modal shift, transit, and the environment associated with our roundtrip model of carsharing have yet to be proven with one-way carsharing. We want to make sure that each of our shared vehicles continues to represent 9-13 cars being taken off the road and all the positive benefits that come with that, as well as augmenting, rather than competing with, other existing active transportation options.
We have studied one-way carsharing in the past and we will continue to explore and monitor its impacts. If data comes to light that shows one-way carsharing to be beneficial to the community and environment, rest assured it is on our radar and we would look into making those changes!
Thanks again for letting us know your thoughts. Some of our favorites:
“I love ego carshare! This program makes it possible to not own a car and still have all my needs met. I feel great about using the vehicles and they come in handy since we don’t own our own car. Thank you for what you do!!!”
“It fills a nice role for people who either don’t have a car, or for people like me who have one, but want something more reliable or more modern to do longer trips. For me, it’s an excellent way to have access to a vehicle on the rare occasions that I need one without having to pay for insurance, registration or maintenance.”
“The cars are always well maintained and the eGo staff is always responsive and friendly. I really appreciate getting to drive new, and environmentally friendly vehicles (hybrids, electric, etc.). The reservation system is easy to use and update.”
“I really appreciate your pricing structure and ease of use, as well as the transparency in your communication. It’s made going without a car much easier.”
“I really love this service, as someone who chooses not to have a personal vehicle living in the city, it is a great option for necessary car trips. It has also saved me a lot of money compared to owning a car. The Denver/Boulder office staff is also extremely helpful.
“I really like it, even though I don’t use it a lot because I ride my bike a lot. It is peace of mind knowing that if my wife or son need the family car and I need a car as well, this gives me a convenient option without having to own a second car.”
“Love the staff. They’re always helpful, professional and friendly.”
Congratulations to the following members who were awarded $20 in carshare usage credits for taking part in our survey: Daniel J., Gina G., Sumate P., Alana W., Andrea H., Andrew T., Amanda T., Maureen M., Evelyn B., Anne B., Robert N., Dakotah B., Joel P., Aaron K., Connie M., Andrew B., James D., Alice G., Abhay K., Joseph B., Kimberly H., Emily C., Jenna W., Johanna W., Aaron G. and Laura P.!
Thanks again to all our members for being a part of carsharing!
Best,
The eGo CarShare Team
Karen, Alexis, Carolyn, Lauren, Jim, Brian, and Britt
You Asked, We Listened
Life is complicated enough without annual fees! That’s why, as of September 1st, we’re doing away with the annual fee for our Peace of Mind plan. Quite a few Peace of Mind members told us they didn’t use our program enough to justify paying the annual fee, so we reviewed our pricing and decided to eliminate the annual fee for our POM plan going forward.
Only use a car occasionally? No problem! Use eGo as your primary vehicle? Awesome!
No matter what your usage needs are, you’re still going to be able to access eGo’s great rates, which remain some of the lowest in the industry.
Another thing we sometimes hear is that our rate structure is a bit complex. So we’ve simplified our rates to make the mileage rate consistent for all vehicle types. Our hourly rate still varies depending on the vehicle type (fuel efficiency) but we hope the new format will make it easier to see your reservation cost.
Our all-wheel drive vehicles are also more popular than ever, and we want to ensure they are available for their intended use. So we’ve added a nominal AWD surcharge of $0.75/hour. We want you to be able to get to the mountains, bike, ski, and adventure in the all-wheel drives, which you can’t do if someone else is using an AWD to go grocery shopping.
Part of our decision to add a surcharge to the all-wheel drives was mission driven- we want members to have an incentive to reduce their environmental impact whenever possible. Did you know that a Prius C gets 53 miles per gallon in-city, whereas a Subaru Outback gets 25 miles per gallon in-city? Our all-wheel-drive usage rates still remain well below the industry average, so we hope you’ll enjoy them when you need one!
Note: This restructuring does NOT represent a rate change for the trucks or minivans; it simply shifts the price differential to the hourly portion of your usage charge. The hourly surcharge for specialty vehicles covers the higher fuel and maintenance costs associated with these vehicles, and also helps ensure they will be more available for those times you need a specialty vehicle. Our pickups are still as affordable as ever for moving, hauling or whatever your needs may be!
We hope our new rate structure* will make it easier for you to see what you’ll be paying at the time you make your reservation.
*rates effective as of September 1st, 2015
Some people wonder why we keep mileage and hourly charges separate, which is different from some other carshare and rental companies. It all comes back to our mission to reduce the impact of single occupancy car driving on the community and the environment. By keeping the mileage separate, we incentivize people to work, shop, and play as locally as possible. There is a real cost to the environment (air pollution, CO2 emissions) and community (traffic, wear and tear to roads) for every mile driven so we encourage people to consider their impact by making mileage a separate charge.
You asked, we listened! As a local, nonprofit company, eGo CarShare could not do what it does without dedicated members like you. Thank you for your support and feedback!
Have ideas? Comments? Something to share? Email us at [email protected]
eGo CarShare & US 36 Express Lanes
eGo CarShare & US 36 Express Lanes – Tolling Begins July 22nd
Switchable HOV Toll Transponders to be installed in all eGo CarShare Vehicles in Early August
The US 36 Express Lanes project is a multi-modal project to add an Express Lane in each direction of US 36 for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) and tolled Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOV). In addition to US 36, Express Lanes are, or will also be, available on I-25, C-470, and I-70.
Switchable HOV transponders will be available in all eGo CarShare vehicles by August 15, 2015. If you use the Express Lanes in a vehicle without a transponder prior to August 15th you will be responsible for paying the full toll even if you are a carpooler.
An overview video can be found here.
US 36 will have 3 lanes of traffic in each direction. The far-right two lanes will be General Purpose/non-Tolled lanes. The far-left lane in each direction is the “Express Lane” which can only be used by buses, carpools, or toll paying solo drivers.
For carpooling and other commute options along US 36, please visit: http://36commutingsolutions.org/commuting-us-36/commute-options
It’s easy to use Express Lanes during your eGo CarShare trip! Check out the FAQs below for more details:
How do I use Express Lanes with eGo CarShare?
If you plan to use the Express Lanes locate the switchable toll transponder on the windshield below the rearview mirror when you start your trip. You’ll need to slide the tab to “TOLL” or “HOV” depending on how many people you have in the car:
How much does it cost to use the Express Lanes?
If you are a carpooler with 2 or more people in your car, using the Express Lane is FREE as long as you switch your toll transponder to the RED/HOV bar. If you are driving alone be sure the transponder is switched to the GREEN/TOLL bar, or avoid using the Express Lane if you don’t want to be charged for toll fees. If you use the Express Lane as a SOV you will be billed for the toll amount listed on the overhead signs, plus a 10% processing fee to offset eGo’s cost of processing toll fees.
How will I be billed?
If you drive on a toll road (including E-470 and NW Parkway) any toll charges you incur during your trip will be billed to you on your monthly eGo CarShare invoice. Note, there is an additional 10% transaction fee for each toll charge to cover eGo’s processing costs.
Do I need to have my own transponder?
No. All of eGo’s cars will have switchable transponders installed by August 15th. All you have to do is make sure to select whether you are a carpooler (RED/HOV) or single occupancy vehicle (GREEN/TOLL).
How do I enter and exit the US 36 Express Lanes?
There are designated entrance/exit areas between each interchange that are clearly identified by overhead signs and pavement markings, or by a barrier. Travelers enter the lanes where the pavement stripes are a white dash, or when there is a break in the barrier. At all other areas, the Express Lanes are separated by a solid, double white line. Crossing double, solid white lines is prohibited.
How will they know who is carpooling and who is paying the toll?
The switchable HOV toll transponders in each eGo CarShare car signal whether you are using the Express Lanes as a carpooler or as a single occupancy vehicle (SOV). Be sure to switch the tab to RED/HOV for carpooling (currently defined as 2 or more people in a vehicle) or GREEN/TOLL for a single occupancy vehicle. Law enforcement will help enforce Express Lanes rules, making sure that those who identified themselves as carpoolers actually have enough people to use the lanes for free.
How can I get more information?
Call us at 303-720-1185 or visit the CDOT US 36 Express Lanes website: https://www.codot.gov/programs/expresslanes
For carpooling and other commute options along US 36, please visit: http://36commutingsolutions.org/commuting-us-36/commute-options/
eGo CarShare Partners With Boulder Co-ops for Affordable Carsharing
In an effort to support multimodal transportation in community oriented housing, eGo CarShare has partnered with housing cooperatives around Boulder to offer them discounted carsharing memberships and rates. Participating houses purchase a group deal at a reduced rate, which then enables all members of the co-op to receive a carshare membership. Some of the co-ops such as Masala, Chrysalis, and Ostara, are part of the Boulder Housing Coalition (BHC), a nonprofit, community housing-development organization; other participating co-ops are independent. eGo CarShare put a car on-site at Ostara in late 2014 and has now worked to bring a discounted deal to other co-ops in the areas well. The idea behind the partnership is to advance eGo CarShare’s mission of promoting alternatives to individual car usage, thereby reducing the social and environmental impacts of motor vehicle use, and to support co-ops by offering affordable alternative transit options that reduce their transportation impact, and save co-op members money.
The discounted carshare program is part of a comprehensive effort by Boulder co-ops to reduce their impact on parking and traffic in the community. Co-ops often struggle with Boulder’s rules and regulations regarding housing, including the occupancy ordinance which states that no more than three unrelated people can live together in a house or apartment. Parking and setback requirements also impact the ability to develop more cooperative housing. Affordable carsharing, which allows members to have another mobility option in addition to walking, biking, and transit, without needing their own personal vehicles, is a win for everybody.
Says Zane Selvans, a BHC board member and chair of Boulder’s Transportation Advisory Board, who lives at the Masala co-op, “We want to participate in carsharing not only for affordability and sustainability reasons, but also to be good neighbors. Parking and traffic impacts are one of the main complaints we come up against when we’re trying to make new or legalize existing co-ops, so we are actively seeking solutions to mitigate those impacts.”
Toyota Prius C Hybrid On-site at Ostara Co-op
Cooperative housing is a great addition to the Boulder landscape. It provides affordable housing, reduced environmental impact, and an emphasis on community. eGo CarShare, Colorado’s only local and nonprofit carsharing service, is uniquely able to partner with such institutions to provide excellent discounted rates to meet the needs of local residents and organizations such as Boulder’s co-ops.
If you live in a cooperative housing situation and are interested in participating, or to learn more about the carshare co-op program, please contact Alexis Bullen at [email protected] or 303-720-1185 x4.
BCHA Casa Esperanza CarShare Pilot Program
eGo CarShare is excited to be part of a pilot program to bring carsharing to low income residents in Longmont! This pilot project is a joint effort between eGo CarShare and Boulder County to bring more awareness of transportation options and to increase resident mobility.
In June 2015, eGo CarShare placed two vehicles, a Honda Fit and a Nissan Versa, at the Casa Esperanza housing development in South Longmont. The cars will be available to all BCHA residents in Longmont – including residents of the Casa Esperanza and Cottonwood housing developments – free of charge for the first two hours and at a significantly discounted rate for longer reservations. As always with eGo CarShare’s service, gas and insurance are included.
Providing carshare vehicles to BCHA residents is intended to be part of a larger transportation solution when paired with initiatives provided by Boulder County.The kick-off event, which happened on June 11th, included presentations on the carshare program and a tour of the cars, allowed residents to apply for a free Eco Pass through Boulder County’s neighborhood pass program and provided transit information. The talks also covered Boulder County’s Ride Free Longmont program, which allows everyone to ride all local bus routes in Longmont for FREE! The Ride Free Longmont program runs through June 2016 and will hopefully be extended. It is eGo’s hope that the carshare vehicles at Casa Esperanza will complement existing transportation options and provide further mobility options for BCHA residents.
RTD Transit Users – Make Your Voices Heard!
RTD is requesting public input on a proposed service plan for US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) between Boulder and Denver, which will be implemented in early 2016 – and on the results of their Fare Study to restructure fares District-wide.
Per our annual member survey data we know that over 80% of eGo CarShare members use the RTD transit system on a regular basis, so we encourage you to stay informed about RTD’s proposed service and fare changes which would take effect January 1, 2016. To get involved please review the info and links below and then ATTEND one of the upcoming public meetings throughout the Metro area to make your voice heard. NOW is the time to give your input to RTD about this important and impactful issue. Having an affordable, robust, and equitable transit system is essential to meeting our community’s sustainability and equity goals.
We applaud RTD for listening to, and incorporating, public input into this process. RTD staff and board members ARE listening, so it’s up to us to make our voices heard so they will know how the fares should be structured to best meet the needs of ALL riders. We should all recognize that fares will need to be set within the context of certain fiscal constraints to ensure RTD remains financially solvent, but your input will help ensure that RTD’s new fare structure and pricing will meet the public’s needs.
We strongly encourage you to attend a public hearing, but if you can’t make it to any of the meeting dates you can submit written comments about these issues to RTD. Send an e-mail (by April 8, 2015) to [email protected], and also Cc your RTD Director. Don’t know who your RTD representative is? Lookup your Director here.
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Fare Changes Public Meetings (partial list):
Denver: Wed, March 25 at Noon, and Wed, April 8 at 6:30pm, RTD Offices, 1600 Blake Street
Longmont: Wed, April 1 at 6:30pm, Longmont Public Library
Boulder: Monday, April 6 at 6 p.m., Boulder Public Library
Check the complete list of public meetings to find the one nearest you.
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Primary Concerns/Recommendations:
Concern: The proposed changes to both the fare structure and fees are very significant and therefore are worthy of careful contemplation. Currently RTD staff have set a very aggressive timeline to make it through this public input process. Public input sessions end on April 8th, and the RTD board is slated to vote on whether or not to adopt the staff recommendations on April 21st. Eight (8) business days is not enough time to allow staff to thoughtfully consolidate and reflect upon the input they will receive during all 16 fare study public hearings.
Recommendation: Ask RTD to take at least one more month to thoughtfully consider and incorporate all public input they receive throughout March and April before they present their final proposal to the RTD board.
——
Concern: Significant fare increases (10-32%) will make transit unaffordable for many low-income riders.
Recommendation: Offer a 50% discounted fare for riders with incomes of $35,000 or less. Check out the novel affordable fare program Seattle (King County) just instituted!
——
Concern: Currently the monthly Local Pass price is $79; RTD is proposing to increase it to $104 – this is a 32% increase! 53% of weekday bus passengers are “transit dependent” due to not owning a vehicle (because of having a mental or physical disability that prevented operating a vehicle, or not having a valid driver’s license). Meanwhile only 25% of light rail riders are “transit dependent” and RTD is proposing to decrease the majority of light rail fares by 35-48%. These proposed changes raise very significant equity concerns. Low-income riders will be hit much harder by these proposed fare increases than mid-to-high income riders.
Recommendation: Institute a 50% discounted fare for low-income riders and keep the monthly pass fare increases in step with the other fare increases. To keep them at a 12% increase they should be priced at:
Local = $88; Express = $153; Regional = $187.
——
Concern: RTD is still working on getting their SmartCard system to be fully functional. Without functions such as “accumulator” functionality, the boarding and payment process will be very time intensive and prone to error.
Recommendation: Ask RTD to prioritize the effort to make their SmartCards smart! Advances in their SmartCard and Prepaid fare card system would solve a lot of issues. It would significantly cut down on boarding times as it would eliminate the need for prepaid card users to be issued a “Day Pass” from the driver when they board, and it would reduce the chances of riders being overcharged for trips. Ask RTD to make technology improvements a priority now so the SmartCard technology is fully functional as of January 1, 2016 – when the fare changes go into effect.
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Proposed US 36 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service Plan Meetings:
Boulder: Monday, March 16 at 6 p.m., Boulder Public Library
Denver: Monday, April 13 at Noon, RTD Offices, 1600 Blake Street
Click here for a complete list of meetings about the US 36 BRT.
What we like about RTD’s current proposal:
The City of Boulder, in partnership with the US 36 Mayors and Commissioners Coalition (MCC) and 36 Commuting Solutions, has reviewed RTD’s proposed changes and has provided their recommendations.
Summary Concerns/Recommendations:
Concerns:
Recommendations:
New Board Member – Holly!
Welcome to the Board, Holly!
Thank You Sponsors!
As 2014 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank our amazing sponsors. Our sponsors put their money where their community is by sponsoring our carshare program, and exposing their organizations to our members and the surrounding community. We have been proud to partner with each of these locally based organizations and true leaders in their industries.
Thank you!
Downtown Boulder, Incorporated (DBI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the continued preservation and enhancement of Downtown Boulder as the heart of the greater Boulder community. DBI works to maintain downtown as the center of commerce, government, culture, and leisure. DBI members support the overall vitality of downtown through public advocacy, political involvement, and community events that enhance the Boulder experience for residents and visitors. Membership in DBI is voluntary, and open to any interested person or organization.
Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa, located just outside of Winter Park, is a highly regarded and environmentally friendly year-round Ranch resort and spa offering rustically upscale accommodations, fine dining and an array of winter and summer outdoor and wilderness recreation activities. Make your reservation for Devil’s Thumb Ranch today and come experience what everyone is raving about!
Namasté Solar a Sunpower Elite Dealer, offers solar PV solutions for residential and commercial customers. Flexible financing options are available, including no money down and 12 months no payments, no interest. Namasté Solar’s unique, values-based business model includes employee ownership, democratic decision-making, community collaboration, open communication, an innovative solar grant program, zero-waste initiatives, and holistic profit measurement. Committed to positive social change, Namasté Solar prioritizes “doing the right thing” above all else for all stakeholders.
Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Inc., has been passionate about baking better breads for families for more than 35 years. Founded and headquartered in Boulder, Colo., Rudi’s Organic Bakery is the only nationally available brand offering a full line of nutritious and delicious, certified organic breads and baked goods. Rudi’s Organic is committed to baking breads using only the best organic ingredients and no artificial additives, preservatives and GMOs. In 2010, they created Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery, a line of gluten-free breads and baked goods made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients so that each bite tastes like the real thing. Rudi’s Organic and Rudi’s Gluten-Free products are available nationally at natural foods stores and select mainstream supermarkets.
The W. W. Reynolds Companies, Inc., is a commercial real estate development, leasing and professional property management firm located in downtown Boulder that currently owns, manages and leases over 3 million square feet of commercial office, retail and industrial property along the Colorado front range. Committed to growth through responsible development and sustainable practices, W. W. Reynolds is proud to be a sponsor of eGo CarShare! For leasing information, please contact Chad Henry or Nate Litsey at 303.442.8687.
Find our how you can be a sponsor or partner with eGo CarShare today! Contact: Karen Worminghaus at [email protected] or 303-720-1185 x 5.
Colorado Gives Day – A HUGE Success!!
Colorado Gives Day was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity of many, we raised, $4,510! We are truly inspired and grateful for this investment in and commitment to our community. These funds will be put to work supporting our 2015 Affordable Housing Transportation Toolkit program by supporting the Neighborhood Eco (NECO) Pass component of the program.
To exemplify what a tremendous impact our Affordable Housing Transportation Toolkit can have, check out this email we received from a Westview resident!
“This is a beautiful gift! Thank you so much for making it possible. Last month my car broke down and I was able to get to work and my children were able to catch the bus to school and this gift made it possible and simple to adjust.“-Westview resident & NECO pass recipient.
The matching funds raised yesterday were enough to get 2015 NECO passes for:
That is 151 low-income residents who will be able to ride RTD all year long!
We are still working to raise the matching funds needed to renew the 2015 NECO Pass contracts for:
If you know of an individual or business that might be interested in helping with this on-going fundraising effort please let us know, [email protected], or share this post with them. Donations can still be made throughout the year via the Colorado Gives website, but the sooner we can renew the NECO pass contracts for these neighborhoods so that residents do not have a lapse in coverage.
Give the Gift of Transportation this Holiday Season!
Do you have an Eco Pass? Do you appreciate and value the freedom and mobility it provides for you? If so, please consider giving the gift of transportation to a local, low-income family this holiday season. Schedule your donation TODAY!
Did you know transportation is the second largest expense, after housing, for most people? Even in car-free households, families spend a large portion of their income getting around. Sometimes this cost makes it nearly impossible to access a job or to attend a child’s school play. As we looked around our community we saw amazing organizations making big impacts addressing people’s housing needs, and realized that we could help with people’s transportation needs. So we applied and were awarded a grant through the Denver Regional Council of Governments to offer a ‘Transportation Toolkit” to residents living in specific Boulder Housing Partners, Denver Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity homes in Boulder and Denver. This toolkit includes deep subsidies for annual RTD transit passes (primarily through the Neighborhood Eco pass program), access and discounts to eGo CarShare, and free or subsidized B-cycle memberships. This grant requires a 17% local match however. We were grateful to receive matching funding from Mile High Connects and The Denver Foundation in 2014, but for 2015 we will need your help!
“To have the NECO pass is a massive blessing as it assures I will always have transportation for getting food, medical help etc. Additionally it saves a tremendous amount of money that I can now use for basic living needs that I would not have had otherwise. It is just a tremendous blessing.” – Noel Taylor senior living in Tapiz at the Mariposa Development
This holiday season please consider sponsoring an annual transit pass for one of your neighbors! Below you will see the primary neighborhoods we are working in and how much eGo needs to meet the 17% match. Colorado Gives Day is Thursday, December 9th and we are asking that you make a contribution on this day. When donating enter in one of the amounts below (or another amount of your choosing) and specify which neighborhood (or specific resident) you would like it go towards in the comment section. Easy!
You can schedule your donation TODAY so you don’t have to worry about remembering to do it on December 9th.
A little about Colorado Gives Day: For the fifth year, Community First Foundation and FirstBank are partnering to present Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 9, 2014. Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. This year, because of a new $1 Million Incentive Fund, every dollar you donate will be increased proportionally. That means if a nonprofit organization receives 10 percent of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, that same nonprofit will receive 10 percent of the $1 Million Incentive Fund!
See our website for more information about our Affordable Housing Transportation Toolkit program.