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.

US36

 

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:

  • If you are a carpooler (2 or more people in the vehicle): Slide the tab on the transponder to show the RED/HOV bar, and you can use the Express Lanes for FREE!
  • If you are traveling alone: Slide the tab on the transponder to show the GREEN/TOLL You will be billed for the toll amount listed on the overhead signs as you enter the Express Lanes. Tolls will vary depending on the amount of traffic in the Express Lane.
  • If you are traveling alone and do not want to incur Toll fees, simply drive in one of the two General Purpose (non-Tolled) lanes on the right side of US 36.

 

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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/

 

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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.”

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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.

Group Photo_Casa Esperanza_06112015

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.

 

Casa Launch Event

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.

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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!

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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.

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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.
HoHolly Ludwiglly is a new eGo Board Member and long-time eGo member (since 2010). Holly lives in Downtown Denver, were she has been car free since 2010. After paying $200/month for a car she drove 2-3 times and being rear-ended twice, she decided it wasn’t worth it to own a car. She learned about eGo from a friend and after seeing a car in front of her apartment building and office. She promptly joined eGo, sold her car, and never looked back. “I was slightly apprehensive at first, but ultimately I felt nothing but relief. No more insurance payments, gas, parking expenses, registration fees, smog checks or maintenance costs If I need a car, I simply reserve an eGo.” She is excited to serve on eGo’s Board because she values our vision of reducing the number of cars on the road and finding creative ways to encourage people to minimize or eliminate use of their personal vehicles.

Welcome to the Board, Holly! 

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 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:

  • 121 Broadway East-West residents
  • 30 Westview residents

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:

  • 82 Red Oak Park residents
  • 156 Mariposa residents
  • 25 Globeville residents

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.

 

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!

Noel Taylor_Mariposa

“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.

Affordable Housing Neighborhood      Match Needed per Annual Pass
Number of Passes Needed
Mariposa – Denver$215156
Globeville – Denver$24825
Red Oak Park – Boulder$8082
Westview – Boulder$3032
Broadway East West – Boulder$30150

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.

 

Green Colorado Award 2014 LogoFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

eGo CarShare to Receive ColoradoBiz Inaugural Green Colorado Award

Denver, CO, June 25, 2014 – eGo CarShare is proud to be the recipient of ColoradoBiz Magazine’s inaugural Green Colorado award as a “Firm on a Greener Path.”

eGo CarShare, a local nonprofit, is one of 50 Colorado organizations to win this first-ever award, and one of only four in the transportation category, along with B-Cycle, Denver International Airport, and Green Garage.

Starting out with just one car in 1997, eGo CarShare has grown into a fleet of 52 fuel-efficient vehicles. Using a roundtrip model that supplements existing public transit options, each eGo CarShare vehicle replaces 9-13 personally owned vehicles. Members report driving less while increasing their walking, biking, and transit use. On average, each member experiences a reduction of 1,951 vehicle miles traveled per year and avoids emitting 1.16 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

The Green Colorado Awards event on June 26th offers an opportunity to recognize Colorado companies whose sustainable initiatives are setting new industry standards. The event will include a special tribute to green champions in nine industry categories and a keynote address by Hunter Lovins of Natural Capitalism Solutions.

ABOUT eGo CarShare

eGo CarShare is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit carsharing organization serving the Denver-Boulder metro area. Our mission is to provide and promote alternatives to individual car ownership, thereby reducing the environmental and social impacts associated with motor vehicle use.

This weekend I had the opportunity to represent eGo CarShare at a car show at the Frasier Meadows Retirement Community in Boulder. It was a great event since people from the community were invited to bring their vintage cars over for display. Many of the cars on display were Model A Fords which were produced in the 1930s. There was also a vintage Pontiac as well as a Chevy Truck. It was refreshing to see all these colorful classics since it added some variety to the mundane designs we see around us today.

Among these classics stood a vehicle of the modern era – The All-Electric Nissan Leaf. I was asked to take the Leaf over for the car show as part of eGo CarShare’s contribution towards the event. It was amazing to see the 2012 Nissan Leaf parked next to a 1930’s Model A Ford. This image depicted the brilliant advancement of technology over the last century.

It was my first time driving an electric vehicle. It was an awesome experience since the car was so quiet and had a great pickup. Getting a range of 80-100 miles on a single charge also seemed very cool, especially for city purposes. Picking it up and returning it to its charging station at Alfalfas was also very straightforward. After dropping it off at Alfalfas, I kept thinking to myself, once you drive an electric vehicle, you don’t want to drive anything else!

– Akshay Gavai

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