February 10th, 2010 0 Comments
Last week we put up a post titled 5 Things You Didn’t Know About America’s Roads, and this week we’re back with 5 more things. Do you know of any other random or obscure facts about America’s roads?
1. Texas has the most Interstate miles, with 3,233.45 of them among 17 routes.
2. There is a rhyme and reason to Interstate and national highway numbers: East-west routes have even numbers and north-south routes have odd numbers. The Interstates were numbered higher for the northern routes and get smaller on southern routes; and north-south routes have larger numbers in the east and grow smaller in the west – such as I-95 on the east coast and I-5 on the west coast.
3. Concrete road surfaces generally last longer that asphalt, but they typically generate more road noise. Because asphalt is produced with petroleum, more road builders are finding ways to make concrete surfaces quieter so that they can use it more. Read More
Tags: asphalt, concrete, facts, highways, honda, I-5, I-95, interstate, M-185, Mackinac Island, roads, route, route 66, Texas, The William Tell Overture, “Get your kicks on Route 66.”
Posted in Sustainable Transportation, Vanpool | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2010 0 Comments
Image courtesy of flickr.com/dmbelo
As a vanpooler, you’ve likely got more time to appreciate the scenery, rather than worry about merging and dodging potholes. And while trees, mountains and the late-afternoon sun are certainly worthy of contemplation, you might also consider the paved pathways that lead between work and home. Here are 5 things you might not have known about America’s network of roads, highways and freeways:
1. Although concrete and asphalt paving had been around for several decades, the first paved road intended for automobiles was constructed in Detroit in 1908.
2. The first coast-to-coast route was mapped in 1913 and dubbed the Lincoln Highway by a private entrepreneur who intended to promote travel along the road for commercial gain. It stretched between New York and San Francisco. Most of the route is still drivable today.
3. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is considered an early model of the freeway and its first section opened in 1940.
4. The Interstate system of freeways didn’t exist until President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Kansas claims a stretch of I-70 is the first section of the system.
5. There are about 45,000 miles of Interstate highways in the 48 contiguous states. Alaska and Hawaii have Interstate routes, but of course, none connect with other U.S. Interstate routes, so rather than “I” names, the routes have “A” names: “A1,” “A2,” etc., in Alaska and “H” names in Hawaii.
Tags: Alaska, america's roads, coast-to-coast, expressway, Federal-Aid Highway Act, freeway, Hawaii, Interstate system, lincoln highway, paved, Pennsylvania Turnpike, President Eisenhower, vanpooler
Posted in Commuting, Sustainable Transportation, Transportation Cost Savings | No Comments »
January 26th, 2010 0 Comments
VPSI celebrated a Vanpool Driver Appreciation Day at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). About 46 representatives from current vanpool groups and the transportation team attended to enjoy pizza and soda.
WSMR, located 45 miles north of El Paso, Texas, launched its program a year ago with three vanpool groups. Since then, it has grown to 30 vans, with three new starts planned in December.
The WSMR vanpool program contributes to a monthly fuel savings of $45,493, reducing 186 tons of CO2 emissions and eliminating 6,287 commute trips from the roads. Read More
Tags: Appreciation, day, driver, Jeff Henning, Josetta Leyva, saving, Transportation, Vanpool, WSMR
Posted in Commuting, Riders and Drivers, Sustainable Transportation | No Comments »
November 3rd, 2009 0 Comments
By Andy Bawden
VPSI’s Loss Prevention and Vanpool Safety Manager
Enclosed is the policy year 2009 - 2010 Insurance Identification card that replaces the card in your vanpool vehicle. While you are replacing this card please be sure that you have in your blue zippered bag the Important Vanpool Items that are listed below. If you are missing any of these items please contact your local VPSI office by calling 1-800-VAN-RIDE (826-7433).
Schedule a Safety Meeting with your vanpool group to review safe vanpool practices. All drivers and riders must respect the driver’s right to operate the van safely and without distractions. Here are some areas to review.
Important Vanpool Items
• Insurance ID Card
• Vehicle Registration
• Tire Gauge
• Volunteer Driver Guide
• CD-Rom Safety Video, The Vanpool Difference
• Preventive Maintenance Coupon Book (may be cabled to van)
• Fleet Response Accident/Incident Instructions
• Pen or pencil
Read More
Tags: 1-800-VAN-RIDE (826-7433), 2009, 2010, Andy Bawden, driver guide, Important vanpool items, Insurance ID Card, Insurance Identification card, policy, safety, tire gauge, vehicle registration
Posted in Commuting, Sustainable Transportation, Vanpool | No Comments »
October 20th, 2009 0 Comments
2009 marked the beginning of a Regional Vanpool program called “Alaska Share A Van.” This is a coordinated effort between 
Anchorage’s Share-A-Ride program, their vanpool provider VPSI and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
As a kick off to get the word out and to thank the existing customers VPSI and Anchorage Share-A-Ride held a customer appreciation picnic on July 18, 2009.
It was a sunny beautiful day in Wasilla at Newcomb Park. Yes, that’s the same place Sarah Palin is from; however we did not see Russia from the picnic site. KMBQ Valley Radio was there, broadcasting live throughout the event. Vanpoolers were everywhere and brought their families (and appetites) along. Read More
Tags: Alaska, Alaska Share A Van, Anchorage, Appreciation, Bill Fritts, Customer, KMBQ, KMBQ Valley Radio, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Mayor Roger Purcell, Picnic, Regional Vanpool, Sarah Palin, Share-A-Ride, Share-A-Ride program, Wasilla, “Star of the Fleet”
Posted in Commuting, Riders and Drivers, Sustainable Transportation | No Comments »
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