Virginians can pledge to try a form of public transportation by going to trytransitweek.org during the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Eighth Annual Try Transit Week, a week-long, educational event designed to encourage Virginians to try a form of public transportation such as bus, rail, vanpool or ferry. Participants who pledge to try transit are automatically entered for a chance to win a year of free transit service from a participating Virginia transit operator, as well as a pair of round-trip tickets aboard Amtrak’s Northeast Regional train.*Pledges will be accepted through September 23, 2016.
“We have seen congestion and travel times continue to increase across the Commonwealth, and we are working with our transit partners to provide alternative modes of travel,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Director of Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation. “Try Transit Week is great way to remind passengers about the benefits of public transportation, and to encourage those who have yet to try transit to do so.”
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and transit operators across the Commonwealth are spreading the word about public transportation accessibility and its numerous benefits. Public transportation riders not only save time and money, but they can multi-task, avoiding all of the hassles of traveling by car alone and arriving at their destinations stress- and hassle-free. A recent DRPT Statewide Travel Study showed people who use transit found more satisfaction with their commute to work than those who drive alone. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports the annual savings for a person who switches their daily commute by car to taking public transportation is $9,634.
APTA also found that the increased use of public transportation provides large health benefits, including reduced traffic crashes and pollution emissions, increased physical fitness, and improved mental health.
