ATLANTA - There are options for Clayton County commuters who are looking for options to get to work when C-TRAN bus service comes to an end on March 31st.
11Alive News contacted the Clean Air Campaign in Atlanta for a list of options for Clayton County commuters. The not-for-profit organization arranges carpools, vanpools and telecommuting options for workers all over Metro Atlanta.
Here are some of the suggestions from the Clean Air Campaign for commuters looking for a new ride to work beginning April 1st:
Alternative Commute Options
There are some other commute options that are worth investigating, such as riding Xpress buses, which currently operate three routes in Clayton County:
- #440 (Tara Blvd. to Atlanta)
- #441 (Jonesboro to Midtown Atlanta)
- #442 (Riverdale to Downtown Atlanta)
Also consider joining or starting a vanpool or carpool.
The Clean Air Campaign works with the Atlanta Regional Commission's RideSmart database to help match people with other commuters who live and work near them. There are currently more than 30,000 commuters looking to share the ride, and you don't need a car to be matched.
If you want to carpool with someone who lives near you but works in a different area, you could try carpooling to the nearest MARTA station.
Currently 26 vanpools originating out of Clayton County are listed on RideSmart.com:
|
Provider
|
Starting City
|
Destination Street
|
Destination
|
|
Enterprise
|
Forest Park
|
Interstate N Circle SE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Forest Park
|
Techwood Dr NW
|
Atlanta
|
|
GRTA
|
Jonesboro
|
Clairmont Road NE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Jonesboro
|
Oxford Rd NE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Jonesboro
|
Interstate North Circle SE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Jonesboro
|
Clairmont Rd
|
Decatur
|
|
VPSI
|
McDonough
|
Aviation Blvd
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Morrow
|
Galleria Parkway
|
Atlanta
|
|
Enterprise
|
Morrow
|
Paces Ferry Road SE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Morrow
|
Clairmont Road
|
Decatur
|
|
VPSI
|
Morrow
|
Clairmont Rd
|
Decatur
|
|
GRTA
|
Morrow
|
S Cobb Dr SE
|
Marietta
|
|
VPSI
|
Rex
|
Clifton Rd NE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Rex
|
Clifton Road NE
|
Atlanta
|
|
GRTA
|
Rex
|
Triangle Pkwy
|
Norcross
|
|
GRTA
|
Riverdale
|
Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW
|
Atlanta
|
|
Enterprise
|
Riverdale
|
Piedmont Rd NE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Stockbridge
|
Clairmont Rd
|
Atlanta
|
|
Enterprise
|
Stockbridge
|
Paces Ferry Road SE
|
Atlanta
|
|
Enterprise
|
Stockbridge
|
Cumberland Pkwy SE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Stockbridge
|
Corporate Square Mall NE
|
Atlanta
|
|
VPSI
|
Stockbridge
|
Clairmont Road
|
Decatur
|
|
VPSI
|
Stockbridge
|
Clairmont Rd
|
Decatur
|
|
VPSI
|
Stockbridge
|
Clairmont Road
|
Decatur
|
|
Enterprise
|
Stockbridge
|
Powers Ferry Road SE
|
Marietta
|
|
GRTA
|
Stockbridge
|
S Cobb Dr SE
|
Marietta
|
Costs
Some of these vans qualify to receive vanpool subsidies of up to $300 per month from the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. The Clean Air Campaign can help you learn more about these subsidies.
Overall, carpooling and vanpooling might be cheaper than you thought and could even save you valuable time.
Carpooling with one other person who lives near you could cut commute costs in half compared to driving alone. And more people in your carpool bring costs down even more. If you would spend $100 a month to drive to and from work alone everyday, sharing the ride with one other person cuts that in half to just $50 a month. If four people ride to work together, you could spend just $25 a month on your commute.
Vanpool costs typically vary depending on the number of riders and routes, but you can vanpool for as little as $5 per day.
Plus don't forget that by working with The Clean Air Campaign, you can earn Commuter Rewards.
- If you currently drive alone, you could get up to $100 cash for trying a commute alternative.
- Those riding C-TRAN now who find a new alternative commute option could win $25 gift cards every month. And if you join a carpool of three or more people, your carpool can get $40-$60 gas cards every month.
- Those who register can also qualify for up to five Guaranteed Rides Home a year.
Asking Employers to Help
With C-TRAN services coming to an end, it's also a great time to reach out to employers about the possibility of alternative work arrangements.
Programs like compressed work weeks, teleworking and flextime have been proven to reduce cost and stress of commuting, as well as lower operating costs and improve employee productivity.
The Clean Air Campaign is happy to work with employers and look at how they might be able to operate differently under alternative work arrangements.
- Right now, for instance, The Clean Air Campaign is offering $2,000 and cost-free consulting to select organizations to launch compressed work week programs in the state.
- Also look at your position and ask yourself if you think you could do your job from home. If so, you could cut commute costs out of your monthly budget a few times a month by eliminating your commute altogether; even just once a week or every couple of weeks can help.
- The Clean Air Campaign has worked with hundreds of employers to launch telework programs, and now more than 15,500 people count themselves as teleworkers in Georgia.
The Clean Air Campaign is Here to Help
If you're not sure what options might work for you, contact The Clean Air Campaign at CleanAirCampaign.org or 1-877-CLEANAIR.
We can probably help you find ways to get to work and how to offset the cost of your new commute.
(The Clean Air Campaign contributed to this report.)