New name for Anoka County TMO
by Bethany Kemming
Staff Intern
As it encourages Anoka County residents to catch a bus or carpool to work, Anoka County Transportation Management Organization (TMO) is catching a new name: Anoka County Commute Solutions.
Anoka County Commute Solutions’ “Commuter Challenge,” runs until June 30 and encourages commuters to try a different kind of transportation to work besides driving alone, such as the Northstar Commuter Rail pictured above. Northstar started up in 2009, transporting commuters between Minneapolis and Big Lake.
“Anoka County TMO wasn’t catchy enough,” Executive Director of Anoka County Commute Solutions Renee Sande said. “We’re in the process of transitioning.”
Along with the name change, Commute Solutions plans to have more of an online presence by the end of the summer, including a Twitter account, Facebook account and online construction and commuter newsletters. Commute Solutions’ primary purpose is to reduce traffic congestion, according to Sande. While it has been successful in reducing the number of cars on the road, Sande said there are fewer cars on the road for many other reasons, including high unemployment.
“The good news is, there are less people commuting. The bad news is, there are less people commuting,” Sande said.
The disadvantages of using public transit primarily lie in transit from suburb to suburb, according to Sande, as suburban transit is somewhat of a “spoke system.”
To travel to another suburb, commuters may have to take a train or bus downtown, transfer and then commute to the suburb, Sande said.
In Anoka County, the high congestion traffic spots include Highway 10, Highway 65 and I-35W. While the Northstar Commuter Rail, overpasses on Highway 65 and the additional third lane on Highway 10 have been helpful in reducing congestion, high traffic congestion during peak traffic hours has prompted many residents to consider teleworking, Sande said.
Commuters have also considered working “compressed work weeks,” where they work longer hours and earn an additional day off.
Commute Solutions primarily provides transit information to employers because they know to what extent employees can be flexible with commuting and scheduling, according to Sande.
Commute Solutions frequently refers carpoolers to the regional guarantee ride home, Sande said.
This program allows registered commuters to be reimbursed for unexpected taxi rides home from the office if they are unable to ride with the carpool. In the event that an employee stays late at the office or hurries home to a sick child, their cab fare or the fare of those in their carpool will be reimbursed.
“It eases a lot of tensions,” Sande said.
These options can also help commuters better balance their work and home life, according to Sande.
Many commuters are either working later or starting earlier, making “combination” work days more common, Sande said.
Combination work days may be beneficial to parents who are unsure about leaving their children home alone, she said.
Sande said many residents have considered biking for financial concerns because of the higher gas prices, as well as the health benefits. The Twin Cities spring “Bike Walk Week” run through June 12 and National Bike to Work day was June 9.
Bethany Kemming is at bethany.kemming@ecm-inc.com
