Governor McDonnell Announces Virginia Transportation Challenge
– Encourages All Virginia Residents to Try Alternate Forms of Transportation –

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced the Virginia Transportation Challenge today as part of Virginia's celebration of Earth Day. The challenge encourages all Virginians to try a form of transportation other than driving alone once every two weeks. The challenge is designed to help Virginia residents begin to shift the way they look at their daily commute and make small changes that can have a big impact on congestion on Virginia highways and the quality of our environment.

Speaking about the Virginia Transportation Challenge, Governor McDonnell remarked, "Sometimes driving alone really is the only option, but not always. Sometimes taking the bus or train, carpooling, vanpooling or teleworking is an even better option. Every time you make the choice to not drive alone you are helping reduce congestion on our highways and harmful emissions in our environment, and you are keeping a little extra money in your wallet."

Virginia's population is expected to grow by 35 percent by 2035, and while the Commonwealth works to improve and expand its transportation system, Virginians must begin a fundamental shift in the way we travel to take greater advantage of the transportation options available to us today.

Using the vast array of transportation options available in Virginia can deliver significant benefits. Public transportation options reduce harmful gas emissions in our environment and gallons of gasoline used each year, remove cars from our congestion highways, and can help families save thousands over the cost of owning and operating a car. Options such as telework can remove the need to commute completely, saving millions of vehicle miles traveled.

Governor McDonnell continued, "Transportation is one of the key challenges facing the Commonwealth, and ensuring we have a modern and efficient transportation system is a key part of keeping Virginia the nation's best place to live and do business. The historic transportation funding legislation passed in the General Assembly, Virginia's new telework tax credit legislation and the Virginia Transportation Challenge all work together to improve our transportation system to meet the demands of the future and help address the congestion we are facing today."

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation's (DRPT) Service Locator tool can help you identify the transportation options available in your area. The tool can be accessed by visiting www.drpt.virginia.gov/locator.

Join the governor in the Virginia Transportation Challenge to experience the benefits Virginia's transportation options can offer and become a part of the movement to change the way Virginians look at their commutes.

To see a video of the governor issuing his Virginia Transportation Challenge, visit https://webmail.vita.virginia.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t9EoqkVcCo

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