Commuter Services of South Central Pennsylvania and its transit partners are encouraging the region’s more than 800,000 commuters to “Dump the Pump” and save gasoline – and money – by using options such as transit, carpools, vanpools and telecommuting.

June 19, is “Dump the Pump Day,” an annual event sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association to “Save your money. Save the planet.” Transit use in the United States saves an estimated 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline a year or 4 million gallons a day of that non-renewable resource, reports APTA.

“If you are still commuting alone, plan now to try an alternative at least on that day,” urged Brandy Heilman, program director of Commuter Services. “Better yet, ‘dump the pump’ more often by using a commuting option for one or more days a week.”

In Central Pennsylvania:

· County of Lebanon Transit is offering a week of free rides from June 16 through June 20;

· York’s Rabbitttransit is doing promotional activities throughout the month; and

· Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster is asking riders to provide testimonials by email or mail on how the service has benefited them. RRTA then will draw from among these submissions and award a free year of bus service.

Heilman noted that the PA Commuter Services website offers: a calculator to show commuters how much they are spending; links to the region’s transit agencies (RRTA, Capital Area Transit, COLT and rabbittransit); an online, confidential ridematching database linking commuters to carpool and vanpool partners; information about Commuter Services’ free emergency ride home reimbursement program; and tips for employers and commuters to encourage use of options other than driving alone.

To help promote “Dump the Pump,” Commuter Services has commissioned billboard placements during June along the region’s major highways to help get the word out to commuters – especially those who are still commuting alone in their personal vehicle – and their employers, directing people to the PA Commuter Services website.

NewsClip: Area Transit to Participate in Dump the Pump

6/13/2008