MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS HAS JOINED COMMUTE CONNECTION! 

Commute Connection is pleased to announce that the Merced County Association of Governments has contracted with the San Joaquin Council of Governments and Commute Connection to provide ridesharing services to the citizens of Merced County. What this means to Merced County commuters, is that Commute Connection is working to build our database with commuters who live or work in Merced County and outlying areas. Commute Connection's goal is to offer the same outstanding services to Merced County residents that we have been offering in San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties since the 1980's. Commute Connection will be reaching out to commuters to provide them with contact information of other commuters who have similar commute patterns in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and to improve the valley air quality.

In the upcoming months, Commute Connection's Regional Planners will be reaching out to employers, employees and commuters in Merced County. As more commuters register with Commute Connection, our database will increase and additional rideshare opportunities will become available. Rideshare opportunities can be in the form of Carpools, Vanpools, Biking, Transit or Rail.

You don't have to wait for a Regional Planner to come to your workplace to register! You can register on line at www.CommuteConnection.com or by calling Commute Connection's toll free line at 1-800-52-SHARE (7-4273). Once you register, you can instantly request a "matchlist" with names and contact information of other commuters who have a similar commute pattern to yours. As our database grows, you can login to your account as often as you like to run updated matchlists.

Are you currently in a carpool? If so, register your carpool with Commute Connection. New carpools are eligible to receive a $50 gas card! It's our way of saying thank you for sharing the ride! Click HERE for a Carpool Registration form.

Would you like to start a new Vanpool? Commute Connection has agreements with Enterprise Rent a Car and VPSI Inc. for new Vanpools that travel within San Joaquin, Stanislaus or Merced Counties. Commute Connection will help you by subsidizing up to $1,800 ($150 per month for 12 months) to new eligible Vanpools who lease their van through Enterprise Rent a Car or VPSI, Inc. For specific information on van sizes and costs, contact Maryam Amari at Enterprise by email at maryam.amiri@ehi.com or by phone at (916) 787-4757, or contact Victor Spencer at VPSI, INC. by email at victor.spencer@vpsiinc.com or by phone at (916) 932-7144.

BIKE TO WORK WEEK

Bike to work week was a very busy week for Commute Connection. Although the weather did not cooperate, the events were fun and spirits were high. There were many entries received by several hundred participants who pledged to ride their bikes to work. We are currently in the process of entering their information into our database. As soon as the entries are processed we will be drawing the names of prize winners, so stay tuned! The winners will be notified by phone and we will post all of the results on our website at www.CommuteConnection.com.

MODESTO AREA EXPRESS COMMUTER ROUTES

The Modesto BART Express departs from the Modesto Downtown Transportation Center, makes one pick-up at the Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) parking lot on Sisk Rd., then travels non-stop to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station twice each morning.  Modesto BART Express also provides two return trips each evening to both locations. For additional information click here.

The Modesto ACE Express bus provides three trips in the morning from Modesto's Vintage Faire Mall Park & Ride lot non-stop to the Lathrop/Manteca ACE train station, and three return trips in the evening. For additional information click here.