It's Try Transit Week

Loudoun County commuters are encouraged to pledge to try a form of transit during the sixth statewide “Try Transit Week in Virginia,” ongoing this week, September 15-19.

Participants can pledge to try transit, learn more about transit options in their area, and enter to win a one-year transit pass to the Virginia transit operator of their choice at www.trytransitweek.org.

Try Transit Week is a good time to discover new alternatives to your commute and how to get around while saving time, money and energy. In Loudoun County, commuters can take advantage of the Loudoun County Commuter Bus Service, which provides service to Rosslyn, the Pentagon, Crystal City and Washington, D.C.; the Metro Connection Bus Service, which provides service from Loudoun County to the Metro’s Silver Line and Orange Line stations; the Local, Fixed-Route Bus Service, and Paratransit Bus Service.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, the average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of that goes to common car expenses. Using transit helps reduce these expenses, such as gas and tune ups, which can save the average family up to $10,000 a year.

To find out more about transit options in Loudoun County, visit www.loudoun.gov/transit.

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"Try Transit Week" Sept. 16-20

Loudoun County Commuters Encouraged to Try Transit During "Try Transit Week" Sept. 16-20

Loudoun County commuters are urged to pledge to try a form of transit during the fifth statewide Try Transit Week in Virginia, Sept. 16-20. You can pledge to try transit, learn more about transit options and enter to win a one-year transit pass to the Virginia transit operator of your choice at www.trytransitweek.org.

In Loudoun County, commuters can take advantage of the Loudoun County Commuter Bus Service, which provides service to the Pentagon, Crystal City, Rosslyn and downtown Washington, D.C.

Loudoun County also offers the Tysons Express Bus Service, which operates commuter bus service to and from Tysons Corner during the peak periods in the morning and evening. In addition, Virginia Regional Transit provides local, fixed-route bus service and limited service to Herndon and the West Falls Church Metro.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, the average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of that goes to common car expenses. Using transit helps reduce these expenses, such as gas and tune ups, which can save the average family up to $10,000 a year.

To find out more about transit options in Loudoun County, visit www.vatransit.org and www.loudoun.gov/bus.

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Fourth Annual Try Transit Week Upcoming September 19-23

Loudoun County commuters can now pledge to try a form of transit during the fourth annual Try Transit Week, a week-long, educational event designed to encourage Virginians to stop driving alone and try a form of transit such as bus, rail, carpools, vanpools or telework. Participants are automatically entered for a chance to win two round-trip tickets on Amtrak Virginia and a one-year transit pass to the Virginia transit operator of their choice.* Pledges will be accepted until September 23, at www.trytransitweek.com.

Try Transit Week, September 19-23, 2011, is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and is designed to motivate non-transit users to try one of the many forms of transit available in Virginia to help reduce peak time congestion.

Last April, Governor Bob McDonnell challenged Virginians to try a form of transportation other than driving alone once every 10 days. Try Transit Week provides the opportunity for everyone in Virginia to accept the challenge, while being entered to win a grand prize.

“The Governor challenged Virginians to stop driving alone and try a form a transit because if everyone in Virginia accepted the challenge, congestion in our heaviest regions could be drastically reduced,” said DRPT Director Thelma Drake. “Try Transit Week is a great time for Virginians to accept the Governor’s transportation challenge and to experience the benefits transit can offer, such as saving money and time.”

According to the American Public Transportation Association, the average household spends 18 cents of every dollar on transportation, and 94 percent of that goes to common car expenses. Using transit and living with one less car helps reduce these expenses, such as gas and tune ups, which can save the average family up to $10,000 a year.

In addition, transit can significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, which helps address congestion and improve commute times. According to the Virginia Transit Association, a single bus can remove up to 40 cars and one passenger railcar can remove up to 125 cars from highways.

With more than 300 bus, rail, carpool and vanpool, and telework partners in the Commonwealth, there are many options available to suit any lifestyle, budget and commute.

“The Commonwealth has a robust transportation network with many different transit options for its citizens,” said DRPT Chief of Public Transportation Bob Wilson. “Virginia’s mix of bus service, variety of rail services, carpool and vanpool options, and telework partners makes it easy to find a transit option that will work for your commute – no matter where you are going.”

In addition to the benefits of using transit, if you pledge to try transit between September 19-23, 2011, you will be automatically entered in the contest to win two round-trip tickets on Amtrak Virginia and a one-year transit pass to the Virginia transit operator of your choice.

Visit www.trytransitweek.com to learn more about the event and transit options, as well as contest rules and regulations, and to enter your pledge.

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Third Annual Statewide Try Transit Week Upcoming Sept. 20-24

It's not to early to begin thinking and planning for this year's Try Transit Week in Virginia, Sept. 20-24.

During Try Transit Week, Virginians (including Loudoun County commuters) are encouraged to stop driving alone and try one of the variety of transit options available such as bus and rail service, carpools, vanpools or telework.

Is there any kind of event you can organize at your office to promote transit? If you're an employer, have you thought about offering transit benefits, or conducting an informational program on transit?

Sept. 20-24 would make the perfect time to help promote transit. And when you pledge to try a form of transit during "Try Transit Week" you'll be entered for a chance to win a year’s free pass to the transit service of your choice and two round-trip tickets on Amtrak Virginia!

Get busy Loudoun County and start preparing your Try Transit Week activities. And stay tuned for more on the event right here on Loudoun County Traffic.

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Try Transit Week a Success; Loudoun Commuter Wins Prize

For the second straight year, more than 1,000 Virginians pledged to stop driving alone and try a form of transit during Try Transit Week. The event, which took place from September 21-25, helped raise awareness about available transit options and about the benefits of using transit, such as saving time and money.

During Try Transit Week, Virginians were encouraged to visit www.trytransitweek.com to learn more about the transit options available and to pledge to try a form of transit other than driving alone. Each pledge to try transit was automatically entered into the contest to win a one- year, free transit pass.

For the second straight year, a Loudoun County Commuter bus rider won the contest. Debbie Haught of Ashburn was randomly selected to win the one-year, free transit pass.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) conducts the annual statewide event to encourage Virginians to try all forms of transit including bus, rail, carpools, vanpools and telework. Officials say taking transit can help an average family save more than $9,000 a year. Encouraging the use of transit also is important to help reduce highway congestion, harmful emissions in the environment and the high cost of commuting.

More information on the Loudoun County Commuter Bus system as well as other locally available commuting options is available on the Loudoun County Web site at www.loudoun.gov/bus.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

Try Transit This Week

Try transit this week during the statewide "Try Transit Week," which encourages Virginians to stop driving alone and try a form of transit such as bus, rail, carpool, vanpool or telework. Try Transit Week is this week, September 21 to 25. Visit the Try Transit Web site to learn more about the transit options, the benefits of using transit and for a chance to win a year’s pass to the transit service of your choice for a year.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

Win Free Bus Rides during Try Transit Week September 21-25

Loudoun County residents have the opportunity to win free bus rides on Loudoun County (LC) Transit during Try Transit Week, September 21-25, and Car Free Day, September 22, 2009.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and transit operators across the Commonwealth are celebrating the first annual, statewide Try Transit Week September 21 to 25, 2009. If you pledge online at http://www.trytransitweek.com/ to use transit at least once during Try Transit Week, you could win a one-year transit pass to travel free on LC Transit.

Tuesday, September 22, is Car Free Day. If you pledge to get around the region by foot, bike, bus, train or by sharing the ride, you’ll not only help to improve air quality and reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll also be eligible for prizes, such as an IPod. You can pledge online at http://www.carfreemetrodc.com/. LC Transit is giving away ten Smartrip® cards worth $25 for those who live or work in Loudoun and pledge to ride transit or use some other commuting option other than the single occupant vehicle that day.

More information about LC Transit is available on the Loudoun County Web site at www.loudoun.gov/bus.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

Try Transit Week is Upcoming Later This Month

Try Transit Week is upcoming the week of September 21-25. The statewide event is designed to encourage everyone to avoid driving solo and give transit options including bus, rail, carpools, vanpools and telework a try.

According to information from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), when you use transit, you save money on fuel and car expenses. In fact, the average family can save up to $9,000 a year by using transit.

DRPT notes that the average person wastes more than a week's vacation sitting in traffic each year, and when you use transit you save time because each car off the road means less congestion and fewer traffic delays.

Visit www.trytransitweek.com and learn about the transit options and pledge to try transit during the week of September 21-25. And you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a one year transit pass to the transit operator of your choice!

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

Try Transit During "Try Transit Week" Next Month

Statewide Try Transit Week, which encourages Virginians to stop driving alone and try a form of transit such as bus, rail, carpool, vanpool or telework, will take place next month -- September 21 to 25.

Visit the Try Transit Web site to learn more about transit options, the benefits of using transit and for a chance to win a year’s pass to the transit service of your choice for a year.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.