We rely on the region’s transportation system every day – whether we’re going to work or school, attending a sporting event at one of the Valley’s big venues, running errands, or visiting friends and family across town. Increased growth in the region means an increase in vehicles that are on the road. The region’s population is expected to double by 2030 to more than 6 million people.

That’s double the cars on the region’s arterials and freeways within 25 years. There are ways that we can make better use of our transportation system, using the tools and resources that state and local agencies have put in place to make our day-to-day travels safer and less stressful.

Check for trouble spots via phone or Internet: There are several resources in the Valley where you can check for trouble spots on your commute route. By calling 5-1-1 or logging on to www.az511.com, you can check if there are incidents or closures on Valley freeways. The www.az511.com Web site also has camera views for about 100 miles of Valley freeways.

Listen to radio and TV traffic reports in the morning and afternoon alert to trouble spots, slow downs and crashes on freeways and major arterials.

Be sure to check local city Web sites for major construction projects and closures. Don’t forget about major event venues Web sites – they usually have information on parking and directions to get into and out of the venue.

Drive the speed limit – Sounds like an obvious safety tip, but there is more to it. Traffic signals are timed to work best when traffic goes the speed limit. That means driving the speed limit will help reduce some of the stop-and-go…speeding will only get you to the red light faster. Fewer stops means less chance of rear-end crashes, and cars spend less time idling which will help our air quality.

Observe alerts on dynamic message signs on freeways and arterials – They alert drivers about upcoming closures, incidents, event traffic information or future construction. These signs provide valuable information for drivers to make decisions once they’re already on the road.

Did you know that short trips of less than six miles are better taken on arterials rather than freeways? Studies have shown that during peak periods, there is very little time savings in taking freeways instead of arterials for short trips.

Arizona law allows the motorist to be free of liability in moving the vehicle from freeway travel lanes to a safer place on the shoulder in the event of a minor accident. This helps to keep the freeway traffic moving and reduces the likelihood of secondary accidents.

High Pollution Advisories – Valley Metro coordinates announcements from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Maricopa County Environmental Services about high pollution advisories for ozone, carbon monoxide and
particulates. These advisories are issued when the air quality is poor and conditions are expected to worsen within a day or two. Carpooling is one way to reduce the number of cars on Valley roads contributing to air pollution. Other alternatives and suggestions include:

• Reduce or combine errands and other trips on high pollution days.
• Take transit, carpool, a vanpool or telecommute if your employer allows.
• Avoid peak hour travel and stop-and-go traffic conditions.

There are several options to the single vehicle commute, and with increasing traffic volumes and rising fuel prices, many Valley residents are looking for alternatives that help them save money, reduce stress, reduce congestion on roads and freeways, and improve our air quality. Consider carpooling, transit, or even telecommuting one or more days per week.

Carpooling – Valley Metro has a free on line ridematching tool at www.sharetheride.com if you are
looking for a carpool in your area. Many employers have implemented carpooling programs and incentives for their employees who carpool one or more days to work per week.
Remember – you can take the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on freeways during morning and evening peak periods when there is more than one person in the vehicle.

Take transit – Transit offers a lot of options for Valley commuters. New RAPID buses offer express service to and from
downtown Phoenix along I-17, I-10 east and west, and SR-51. Park-and-ride lots make it easy and convenient to catch
RAPID service to head into downtown. www.valleymetro.org has all the information you need about routes, schedules,
fares and transit services throughout the Valley.

There is even an on line trip planner that will map your bus routes out for you! METRO Light Rail Transit will soon be coming to Phoenix, providing even more public transportation options for commuters.

Flexible work options – If your employer allows flexible work options, you might be able to telecommute or modify your
schedule with a compressed work week. This helps to reduce trips during work days, as well as provide other benefits to employees.