No. H255/05
For release November 24, 2005
Carpooling in the Greater Toronto
Area and Hamilton easier
than ever before.
TORONTO - Toronto Mayor David Miller and the Smart Commute Association
announced the launch of Carpool Zone, the first ever Internet carpool service to
help commuters in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton find people to share a
ride with.
Commuters can register with Carpool Zone today at
www.smartcommute.ca by filling
out a simple questionnaire about their commute such as time, origin and
destination. Commuters can also add various preferences to help them find the
right people to share their commute. Preferences include specifying second
languages spoken, smoking, music, and gender. The system then searches the
database to find the closest possible match by using precision mapping
technology. The system also has built-in privacy measures to ensure that
personal information is confidential until both users confirm interest in
forming their carpool.
"This program is the culmination of many years of planning and action," said
Toronto Mayor David Miller who, during his tenure as councillor, helped
establish the local Smart Commute in North Toronto and Vaughan. "Carpool Zone
also complements the City of Toronto's other carpool initiatives such as our
existing high-occupancy vehicle lanes, carpool parking at TTC Park & Rides, and
the Smart Commute pilot program for employees at the North York Civic Centre."
"We are excited to launch the system with Mayor Miller today," says Smart
Commute Association Deputy Executive Director, Ryan Lanyon. "Carpool Zone is
really easy to use, and will help us all to take action on traffic congestion."
Smart Commute Initiative is one of the eight municipal projects under the Urban
Transportation Showcase Program - a five-year program created to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in Canadian cities.
Transport Canada will contribute up to $2.5 million in funding, up to one third
of the costs.
For more information about Carpool Zone and the Smart Commute, please visit
www.smartcommute.ca.
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Contacts:
Ryan Lanyon
Deputy Executive Director
Smart Commute Association
416-338-5083
Cell: 416-556-3758
ryan@smartcommute.ca
Sarah Twomey
Outreach and Communications Coordinator
Smart Commute Association
416-338-5088
Cell 647-402-2563
sarah@smartcommute.ca
Chris Krepski
Communications
Transport Canada
613-993-0055
krepskc@tc.gc.ca
The Smart Commute Association (www.smartcommute.ca) provides and encourages
the use of commuter options in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton. The
Association works with a network of local Smart Commutes to provide direct
services for employers and their employees. Currently there are Smart Commutes
located at North Toronto, Vaughan and Markham, Richmond Hill. Services will soon
be available in Mississauga, Durham, Newmarket-Aurora and other areas across the
region.
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons
with visual disabilities.
