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Ridematching Program Case Study
| Nashville, Tennessee
The Middle Tennessee Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), a nine-county agency created by state statute in 1988, operates a program called "Ride Instead of Drive - It's Easy," or RIDE. The RIDE program is a funding and subsidy program to promote and encourage the use of vanpools as an alternative to single-occupancy vehicles for commuting to and from work. RIDE was initiated in the fall of 1992 with funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. Currently, funding is provided by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and five participating counties. The program has more than 90 vanpools and approximately 600 participants. RIDE provides financial incentives for starting vanpools through a "Seat Guarantee" program. Newly formed vanpools with a driver and at least seven committed riders are eligible for funds to cover the cost of empty seats for up to six months. To receive funding, the vanpool operator must actively try to increase the number of riders. The RIDE program also matches commuters interested in participating, and encourages employer-based promotions, such as parking cash-outs and/or funding of vanpools for employee transportation. RIDE also operates the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which mitigates one of the biggest objections to carpooling or vanpooling. This allows participants up to eight trips per year, without charge, for unexpected overtime or family emergencies. Twelve free park-and-ride lots have been established in the greater Nashville area for carpools, vanpools, or public transportation. The RTA makes use of existing administrative structures and processes to promote efficiency and avoid duplication. Office space and support services are provided by the Greater Nashville Regional Council. In 1996, the MPO estimated that the RIDE program reduced Volatile Organic Compounds emissions by approximately 154 kg/day. Model Rule The program was created by enabling legislation, and funded through a regional agreement involving the MPO and five participating counties. Quantification Emission reductions are estimated using standard EPA emission factors multiplied by the number of cars removed from the road. Further Information For further information on the RIDE program, contact Marian Ott, Middle Tennessee RTA, 615 862-8833. Similar Programs Similar programs are operated in many communities. Here are some:
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