Commuter Connections - Celebrating 40 years (1974-present)
Commuter Connections, est. 1974
Enhancing the region’s economic vitality and quality of life for 40 trusted years by helping Washington metropolitan commuters choose a smarter way to work, and assisting employers with the development of commuter benefits for their employees.
1973-10-01 00:00:00
Oil Crisis
OAPEC (OPEC, plus Egypt, Syria and Tunisia) proclaimed an oil embargo.
1974-01-01 00:00:00
Gas Prices Rise
Average gas price went above 50 cents/gallon for the first time in the United States
1974-06-28 05:05:56
Commuter Club
Commuter Club formed in response to the oil embargo
1974-08-01 00:00:00
Grand Opening
Commuter Operations Center opens
1974-09-01 00:00:00
Keypunch Cards
Keypunched cards were hand-mailed by COG staff. Litton matched ridesharers via IBM 360/370 mainframe
1977-01-01 15:50:17
Carpooling to Metro Stations
Redesigned and refined computer program made available, increased push for carpooling to Metro stations
1977-01-01 15:50:17
Vanpooling Workshops
COG hosts vanpooling workshops attended by dozens of major firms
1977-08-01 15:50:17
Streets For People Campaign
CC promotes through posters and a 3-dimensional display on P Street pedestrian mall in conjunction with “Streets for People” program
1979-01-01 15:50:17
1979 Oil Crisis
Due to decreased oil output in the wake of the Iranian Revolution; widespread panic results
1979-09-01 15:50:17
Silver Spring Share-A-Ride
Share-A-Ride formed in Silver Spring
1980-01-01 23:51:57
Gas rises over $1.00
Average gas price rises above $1 a gallon
1980-05-01 00:00:00
IBM 4300 Mainframe
Conversion to an IBM 4300 mainframe computer. Local ridesharing agencies had “dumb terminals” and dot matrix printers & printed/mailed ridematch letters themselves.
1980-06-01 00:00:00
Iran - Iraq War
Oil production in Iran nearly stops. Oil prices begin a 20 year decline.
1980-07-01 23:51:57
Commute Time : 22 Minutes
Average commute is under 22 minutes (Census Bureau)
1980-11-01 00:00:00
Regional Database Created
The City of Alexandria, Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince William Counties and Northern Virginia Transportation Commission joined the network and shared one regional database.
1980-11-01 00:00:00
DC Rail Expansion
Rail expansion in DC
1983-06-01 00:00:00
Demand for Parking Decreases
Monitoring fringe parking lots, Commuter Connections found a 4% increase in parking spaces, with an occupancy decline of 13% due to the 1980 rail expansion
1986-02-01 03:53:11
RideFinders
Name change from Commuter Club to RideFinders
1986-10-01 03:53:11
Regional Marketing
RideFinders forms a regional marketing program
1989-09-10 03:53:11
ACT Conference
ACT conference in DC focuses on marketing ridesharing
1990-08-01 22:06:01
Network Expansion
Network includes all D.C. area local governments, a few federal agencies, several Transportation Management Associations, and Baltimore, Maryland, and N. Virginia local jurisdictions.
1993-03-01 22:06:01
IBM RS 6000
Conversion to IBM RS 6000 Unix/AIX computers using a PC-based ArcView GIS application; runs stand-alone at local ridesharing agencies.
1994-01-01 22:06:01
Radio & TV
Commuter Connections markets with radio traffic sponsorships and TV PSAs
1994-10-01 22:06:01
DC Partners
Commuter Connections starts DC Employer Outreach program
1996-01-01 22:06:01
Commuter Connections is born
Name change from RideFinders to Commuter Connections
1996-09-01 22:06:01
Telework Resource Center
Metropolitan Washington Telework Resource Center opens
1996-12-01 22:06:01
Commuter Connections expands...
Commuter Connections now includes: transit routes and schedules, bike to work, park&ride and HOV info, telecommute/telework assistance, InfoExpress kiosks, and employer services.
1997-01-01 22:06:01
Guaranteed Ride Home
Guaranteed Ride Home and Employer Outreach program first offered
1998-06-28 22:06:01
Employer Recognition Awards
First recognized area employers through the Employer Recognition Awards
1998-07-01 22:06:01
Bicycling Outreach
Employer outreach for bicycling starts
2000-01-01 15:48:06
World Car Free Day
World Car Free Day was started
2000-03-01 15:48:06
Gas Prices reach $1.50
Average gas price more than $1.50 per gallon
2000-06-01 15:48:06
Commuter Connections expands...
Commuter Connections now includes: Car Free Day, Guaranteed Ride Home in the Baltimore region, Special Event and SchoolPool ridesharing
2001-04-01 16:11:16
Emergency Commute Preparedness
Commuter Connections introduces an Emergency Commute Preparedness brochure and encourages employers to have Continuity of Operations Plans in place. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ regional emergency plan includes a “super-carpooling” option where motorists fill their cars to capacity to speed up emergency evacuations.
2001-05-01 15:48:06
Regional Bike to Work Day
First Bike to Work Day held with a few hundred participants
2001-09-11 15:48:06
American Airlines Flight #77
American Airlines 77 crashes into the Pentagon resulting in road closures and increased security in the region.
2001-09-30 15:48:06
Anthrax Attacks
Anthrax attacks begin to occur on the Washington DC region
2003-01-01 16:11:16
Alternative Commute Options
Regional Mass marketing efforts of alternative commute options begin
2005-06-01 08:02:22
James Carville & Pat Buchanan
Commuter Connections teams up with opposite aisle political pundits James Carville and Pat Buchanan, with the notion that if they can carpool together, anyone can!
2006-01-01 16:11:16
LIVE Near Your Work
Commuter Connections spearheads Live Near Your Work workshops/events
2007-04-01 01:22:11
Teleworking trends upward...
19% of the region's commuters teleworked in 2007, up from 13% in 2004
2008-01-01 01:22:11
SmartBikeDC
Bikesharing first introduced by the District under the name SmartBikeDC
2008-07-01 01:22:11
Gas reaches $4
Gas prices spike to more than $4 per gallon
2008-09-02 16:11:16
Oracle web-based map tools
Oracle web-based transportation demand management replaces the IBM RS 6000
2008-11-19 01:22:11
LinkedIn
Commuter Connections LinkedIn account created
2008-12-01 16:08:09
Commuter Connections Coffee
Commuter Connections ads are served on coffee cup sleeves and atop gas pumps
2009-01-01 18:44:24
Bicycle Commuting Reimbursement
a $20 per month bicycle commuting reimbursement was added to the list of qualified transportation fringe benefits that employers can offer to employees.
2009-04-15 01:22:11
Twitter
Twitter @BiketoWorkDay formed
2009-06-03 01:22:11
Facebook
Commuter Connections joined Facebook
2009-08-29 17:49:10
Twitter
Twitter @CarFreeMetroDC formed