Carpool program axed, with little to show for it
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_25283952/carpool-program-axed-little-show-it

My response:

Corrections:

SCCRTC program was not submitted as a pilot project. SCCRTC submitted the ‘Cash-for-Carpools’ program as a ‘proven & effective technology’ at grant application time in 2008. This false claim improved the RTC’s grant ‘score’ which helped the RTC net $120,000 of public funds – for a program that was destined to fail.

I met with Richard Stedman (head of Air District) on Tuesday, 5th of March. Richard assured me that if the RTC lied to the Air District at grant application time in 2008, they will consider taking legal action against the SCCRTC. I have more than enough evidence that the RTC lied in their grant application, and I would be willing to testify in court over this.

It disgusts me to see the public being lied to and ripped-off by the RTC, and harm done to our community by funds being directed to known ineffective programs, while denying resources to known effective programs.

Other corrections:

Commute program that Cabrillo applied for funds was not ‘fledgling’. Commute trip reduction program had been proven at multiple employers in Santa Cruz, and throughout the US. Clients have included: the City of Santa Cruz, County of Santa Cruz, eBay, Gap, SAP, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Cooley, Fenwick & West, etc.

Fred Keeley (Transportation Funding Task Force Convener & Santa Cruz County Treasurer) in 2007:

City of Santa Cruz video testimonial: http://greenstartupstory.com/category/success-in-santa-cruz/

City of Santa Cruz: Meeting with Ross Clarke, Climate Change Action Coordinator: http://greenstartupstory.com/2012/07/13/rs-citysc-cap/

County of Santa Cruz testimonial: https://www.ridespring.com/home/index.php?page=employers

“RideSpring is the most effective, and cost effective tool we have at the Santa Cruz County Government to reduce car commute trips, and address our parking challenges” Nancy Gordon, General Services Director, Santa Cruz County, January 2010

County of Santa Cruz: cost effectiveness achieved: http://greenstartupstory.com/2012/08/28/rsclients-in-santa-cruz-county/sccountyrsusersaug07-jun10-21jun13-1/

SAP: customer from 2008-2012. Video case study on CBS Smartplanet: http://www.smartplanet.com/video/cracking-the-carpool-conundrum/406777

Fenwick & West: US-wide customer. Providing RideSpring to California, Washington, Idaho. Two video testimonials: http://greenstartupstory.com/category/ridespring-at-fenwick-west/

Gap Inc. RideSpring provided to sites in SF, Petaluma, New Mexico. Carbon Disclosure Project Case study: http://greenstartupstory.com/2012/10/11/ridespring-case-study-in-gap-carbon-disclosure-project-report/

In response to your comment:

“the failure of the program raises questions about [Santa Cruz] county residents’ willingness to change their commuting habits for the sake of the environment”

– Are you implying that this failure is the fault of Santa Cruz County residents? That is quite a stretch – when the fault of this complete waste lays 100% on the shoulders of the SCCRTC and Air District.

I think I can also help answer that question:

As I have said in our conversations, and stated above, RideSpring has provided commute programs throughout the US, and we have millions of commute trips logged from all these clients, which includes four clients in Santa Cruz County

From all this commute data we do not see any reduced effectiveness with Santa Cruz residents. In fact, we see the opposite. So if anything, Santa Cruz County residents do respond more than most, and have a need for services that will help them with their commute. Some of the questions your article raises for me are:

– Will there be a full and open inquiry?
– When will Cabrillo College get an effective program?
– Will there be any legal action against the RTC?

—
Paul McGrath
Commute Consultant
https://twitter.com/RideSpring
http://www.ridespring.com
Blog: http://www.greenstartupstory.com
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