October
22,
2003
CONTACT:
Dave Sotero/Marc Littman
MTA MEDIA RELATIONS
(213) 922-3007/922-2700 www.metro.net/press/pressroom
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MTA
Announces "Metro School Pool" Rideshare Program to Help Parents Get Their
Children to and from Schools
Recognizing
that the transit strike has made it difficult for students to get to and from
class safely and on time, MTA announces a partnership with area schools that
will provide free, school-specific rideshare information to parents.
Called Metro School Pool, the
program is an innovative addition to MTA's Rideshare Program, which helps
commuters and employers find alternatives to driving alone, including
carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, bicycling, walking, and telecommuting.
MTA will work with public,
private and charter schools and school districts to establish an exclusive
database of families interested in forming or joining a carpool at specific
elementary and secondary school campuses within Los Angeles County. MTA's
Metro Commute Services Department will then develop customized parent-to-parent
match lists and other available alternatives. School administrators will collect
from and distribute rideshare information to parents directly to protect the
identity and confidentiality of families.
Parents forming school
carpools will establish their own ridesharing ground rules, such as pickup
times, pickup locations and seating arrangements.
MTA is now identifying and
contacting area schools and school districts to participate in the program. MTA
staff is available to participate in upcoming Back To School Nights and other
school functions to promote the program.
Interested school
administrators should call (213) 922-2811 and select "Option" 3 to register
their schools for participation in the program. The 24-hour automated voice
system will record their message and an MTA account executive will contact them.
MTA, working with five other
county transportation agencies, also provides a ride matching service for all
Southern California commuters interested in ridesharing. The web site provides
carpool and vanpool match lists, maps and other resources needed for commuters
to initiate rideshare relationships. Visit the web site at www.ridematch.info.
For additional information,
visit MTA's web site at www.mta.net or call
1-800-COMMUTE.
MTA-164