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Posts Tagged ‘Jon Martz’

VPSI Descends on the Association for Commuter Transportation International Conference

September 10th, 2009 0 Comments

By Chris Simmons
VPSI’s Government Affairs Executive

VPSI was well represented at this year’s ACT (Association for Commuter Transportation) Conference in Washington, DC. From the exhibit hall, to the breakout sessions, to the member activities, VPSI was there. Local representatives Rico Fleshman and Cathleen McIntyre were members of this year’s organizing committees, assisting with new member activities, the exhibit hall and in providing local transportation solutions for attendees.

VPSI speakers included Jon Martz and myself, discussing the current ACT public policy initiatives, especially those dealing with the next federal transportation authorization. Moreover, in a standing room only session, Angie Payne discussed the successes and challenges of the MichiVan Vanpool Program and how the lessons from that program might prove useful to other vanpool programs across the country. Read More

Tags: 11th Congressional District of Virginia, act, Assistant Secretary for Policy for the US Department of Transportation, Association for Commuter Transportation, California, Cathleen McIntyre, Chris Simmons, conference, Honorable Gerry Connolly, Jon Martz, Palm Springs, Pierce Homer, Polly Trottenberg, Rico Fleshman, Secretary of Transportation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, telework
Posted in Interviews and Experts | No Comments »

What does ACT stand for?

August 27th, 2009 0 Comments

This year’s ACT International Conference starts Sunday. It runs August 30 to September 2 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC.

Featured presentations include an overview of the MichiVan vanpool program by VPSI’s Angie Payne and a public policy council topic session by VPSI’s Jon Martz.

Find out more at www.actweb.org.

Tags: 2009, act, Angie Payne, international conference, Jon Martz, Michivan, public policy, stand, sunday
Posted in Polls | No Comments »

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Increases Transportation Fringe Benefit

February 25th, 2009 0 Comments

Washington – This week, Congress took action on the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” and included a provision that would increase the cap on the transit/vanpool portion of the transportation fringe benefit to $230 a month, the same as parking. The change approved today by the committee would correct the current inequity between the transit and parking portions of the commute benefit, which affects millions of commuters.

In a statement, Jon Martz, Vice President of VPSI, offered the following: jonmartz1

“The action taken today by Congress is an important step forward in providing the American worker with cost effective commute alternatives. There are hundreds of thousands of vanpoolers around the nation who utilize the transit benefit on their daily commutes. These vanpoolers help reduce congestion by taking as many as 14 cars of the road per vanpool and conserving hundreds of millions of gallons of fuel each year. In many states, the cost of utilizing a vanpool exceeds the current cap on the transit benefit. This provision will provide those workers with much needed tax relief and fairness by establishing equity between the transit/vanpool and parking portions of the commute benefit.

“I specifically want to thank Senator Schumer and Congressman McGovern for their tireless leadership on this important issue. Their leadership and efforts will help provide a cost effective way for millions of Americans to get to and from the jobs that this legislation intends to create.

“I am also encouraged by the commitment to spur economic stimulus by appropriating a significant amount of funding towards highway and transit projects. I am confident that these funds will help reduce congestion, conserve energy, clean the air, and create jobs.”

About VPSI, Inc.
Established in 1977 and headquartered in Troy MI, VPSI is the nation’s leading provider of commuter vanpool services. With offices in forty (40) major cities in the U.S. and Europe and more than 5,200 operating vanpools, VPSI provides an environmentally friendly public transportation option that saves commuters time and money.

Vanpools are a qualified mode of public transportation under the transportation fringe benefit and are one of the many ways companies can obtain credit towards LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. VPSI serves industries, governments, individuals and Fortune 500 employees around the world. For more information, please visit www.vpsiinc.com.

Tags: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Commuting, Green Employee Benefits, Jon Martz, Sustainable Transportation, Transportation Cost Savings, Vanpool
Posted in Commuting, Green Employee Benefits, Sustainable Transportation, Transportation Cost Savings, Vanpool | No Comments »

Jon Martz Speech from Michivan Event (300th Celebration)

November 5th, 2008 0 Comments

Michivan Event- Jon Martz and local vanpoolers.

The Lansing State Journal published an article yesterday about the efforts of a citizen task force addressing the daunting issues of surface transportation spending in the State of Michigan, and possible financing mechanisms (short of gasoline tax increases) to address our future needs.

While serving as President of the national Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT), I was fortunate to have been selected to serve on the federal panel of transportation experts who were asked to look at the same issues for our nation. I don’t envy the job of our next speaker, Kirk Steudle, the Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation…There are no easy options for MDOT, for lawmakers or for taxpayers… toll roads, congestion pricing, raising the gas tax… all are unpopular choices the state must consider in the very near term.But, one of the financing options which has gotten a strong “push” from the USDOT is the Public-Private Partnership. We have an extraordinary example of a working public-private partnership right in our own backyard… the MichiVan Commuter Vanpool Program.

Unlike other more conventional public transportation programs, the MichiVan program is financed with 100% at-risk, private capital. Today, upon reaching the 300 vanpool in service mark, that private investment for the benefit of Michigan commuters reaches approximately $7.5 million.

This private capital investment affords the State of Michigan the opportunity to use an equivalent amount of funds for other needed capital projects, or (as in this case) to be able to provide a public transportation program that it would otherwise be unable to afford to offer our Michigan commuters.

This capital investment is being made by VPSI, a private provider of public transportation services…a somewhat unique distinction in the world of public transportation. VPSI was formed over 30 years ago right here in greater Detroit, and is now based in Troy, Michigan. We support our Michigan automakers… our national fleet currently stands at 5,000 commuter vans…all built by the UAW men and workers who assemble the Ford and GM full-size vans and Chrysler minivans we use in our programs that serve commuters from Miami to Anchorage… from Boston to Honolulu… and from Los Angeles to Washington DC… The purchase of our 5,000th van this month represents a private capital commitment of more than $125 million for public transportation and to our the Big 3 automakers right here in Michigan.

It’s a great story and as you can tell I love to tell it, but I need to say thanks and acknowledge the efforts of the staff at Michigan DOT whom we work closely with… Sharon Edgar, Kim Johnson, Jean Ruestman and Elaine Luo, and to hand the microphone to MDOT Director Kirk Steudle.

Tags: Jon Martz, Vanpool
Posted in Vanpool | No Comments »

Posts Tagged ‘Jon Martz’

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