May Commuter Newsletter

In This Issue

May 7 Community Meeting for SBW Transportation Plan

Bike breakfast & bike safety checks May 13

Late night T service reminder

May events that may impact your commute

NuRide - Green commute rewards

Carpool Program

Guaranteed Ride Home Program

The Seaport TMA's commuter newsletter contains information about our incentive programs, events, and more. If you participate in at least one of our programs, you'll receive our newsletter each month with reminders to submit reports, information on program changes, and other important commuter information.

Community Meeting May 7 as South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan underway

What: Community Meeting

Who: People who work in, live in, or visit the South Boston Waterfront, or the surrounding neighborhoods

When: Wednesday, May 7 at 6PM

Where: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), Room 160

Why: An interagency planning effort, which began several months ago to identify transportation investments needed in the South Boston Waterfront due to the rapid pace of development in the area,

has entered the public involvement period, while the consultant is analyzing existing conditions and opportunities.

Web site: www.SBWaterfrontMobility.org

Background:

For the past several months, the Seaport TMA has been participating in an interagency planning effort pertaining to developing a master transportation plan for the district.

The South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan is being conducted in order to define and prioritize transportation system investments needed over the next two decades due to the rapid pace of development in the area.

After a thorough RFP submission and interview process, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) was selected as the consultant to study existing conditions and develop the long term plan. Managed by A Better City, this interagency effort has included the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA), Massport, the City of Boston, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), the MBTA, and the Seaport TMA.

The current phase of the study is analyzing existing conditions and opportunities, while beginning a public involvement period. The plan is scheduled to be completed in December 2014, at which point a series of recommendations will be made.

The web site for the South Boston Waterfront Sustainable Transportation Plan is live at www.SBWaterfrontMobility.org. You can check this site for updates and documents.

This project is sponsored by the MCCA, Massport, MassDOT, and the City of Boston, with several private contributions from area companies and developers.

Seaport TMA Bicycle Commuter Breakfast

The Seaport TMA is happy to host our annual outdoor Bicycle Commuter Breakfast with free bike safety checks during Bike Week. It will be held on will be on May 13 from 7:30-9AM.

MyBike, a bike shop in South Boston, will be on site to do bike safety checks.

Seaport TMA Bicycle Commuter Breakfast

Tuesday, May 13
7:30-9AM
Location in Seaport TBA

(RSVP requested for food count by May 9 to info@seaporttma.org; Directions will be sent to those who RSVP).

Whether you bike to work every day, occasionally, or you want to get your bike checked out, come stop by for free light breakfast provided by the Seaport TMA, free bike safety checks by MyBike, and also pick up a free T-Shirt for the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge.

Registration open for 20th Anniversary MassCommute Bicycle Challenge May 10-18, 2014

The MassCommute Bicycle Challenge (MCBC) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. Scheduled to take place during Bay State Bike Week May 10-18, 2014, this friendly Challenge between businesses, institutions, and municipalities celebrates bicycling for fun, fitness, and transportation. Prizes are given to winners for miles biked and other categories.

This is a great opportunity to rally your coworkers to form a company team, and to invite coworkers to try bike commuting who have not yet tried it.

This annual Challenge is co-organized by the Seaport TMA and the other 10 transportation management associations (TMAs) in Massachusetts, which comprise the council MassCommute.

Make sure to follow the MassCommute Bicycle Challenge on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Late night MBTA service available on weekends

In March 2014, the MBTA began late night weekend MBTA service on subway lines and 15 key bus routes. Service on these lines will operate until approximately 2:30AM on Friday and Saturday nights. This is currently a one-year pilot program.

Services planned to operate until approximately 2:30AM include the Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Mattapan, and Silver Lines (except SL2) and the 15 Key Bus Routes, which includes routes 1, 15, 22, 23, 28, 32, 39, 57, 66, 71, 73, 77, 111, and 116/117.

You can read about the extended service hours and schedule details here.

May events that may impact your commute

May calendar: Our monthly calendar includes South Boston Waterfront area events which are each expected to draw 1,000 to several thousand attendees and which may impact your commute (parking, traffic, public transportation) and area activity.

View a PDF of the May 2014 South Boston Waterfront Calendar of Events by clicking here.

Commuter Incentive Programs Reminders & Updates

NuRide rewards for green commuting

NuRide, the designated green commute rewards program in Massachusetts, offers rewards when you bike, walk, use transit, carpool, or telework. Members earn points toward discounts and coupons to restaurants and attractions.

NuRide has launched a

new, mobile friendly web site, making it easier than ever to be rewarded for green commuting. Check out their new web site here.

Carpool Program

Current Carpoolers: Please submit your carpooling report for this past month by clicking here. Only one person per carpool should submit the report.

Interested in carpooling? Find a match by browsing our carpool listings of people working in the South Boston Waterfront who are interested in sharing the ride to work. Remember to check this list regularly for other prospective carpoolers from your area. We will also contact you if we find a prospective carpool match from those submitted.

Share the ride to work and be rewarded with gas cards, reserved parking, and more.

You'll be matched with employees who work similar hours and live nearby, making carpooling convenient and easy. Choose when and how often you want to carpool. The more you share, the more you earn.

Guaranteed Ride Home

Did you know that if you take transit, carpool, or bike to work you are eligible for the Seaport TMA's Guaranteed Ride Home program?

This service provides you with a free taxi ride home (includes fare and tip - suggested tip is 15%) if you have a personal emergency while at work. Participants are issued up to four vouchers each year upon submission of the confirmation report.

For more information and to register for Guaranteed Ride Home, click here.

Current participants:

If you have misplaced the confirmation report form sent to you with your voucher, you can print a new one from our web site here. We will issue you a new voucher after receiving this form mailed to us with your receipt.

Reminder: Make sure to check the name of the taxi company on your voucher before you hail/call a taxi to ensure you use the correct taxi company.

Contact the Seaport TMA staff with any questions or for more information about the items in this newsletter: info@seaporttma.org.

The Seaport Transportation Management Association ("Seaport TMA")
is a non-profit organization of leading businesses, employers, land developers, and property managers in the South Boston Waterfront striving to ease commuting and reduce local traffic congestion through the use of alternative transportation.