Media Contact: Karyn Le Blanc, 202-671-3490

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) recently completed an evaluation of its carsharing initiative and based on the findings and conclusions, DDOT plans to continue its support of this successful transportation alternative. 

 The evaluation concludes that DDOT’s objectives have been met.  These included:

• increased awareness of carsharing services,
• reduction of car ownership by selling a car or avoiding the planned purchase of a car leading to reduced traffic congestion, reduced parking congestion, and reduced auto emissions,
• increased mobility options for those unable to afford to purchase a car.

DDOT is committed to reducing congestion and parking problems with innovative transportation options such as carsharing   Carsharing provides a network of privately owned vehicles that can be rented by the hour or day. Carsharing provides the mobility of a car without the expense and hassle of car ownership. A low emission and environmentally friendly fleet of cars is located near Metro stations and neighborhood centers throughout DC.

Experiences in the District and Arlington show that a single carsharing vehicle can be used by as many as 50 to 90 members, thus helping reduce parking and traffic congestion. For this reason, DDOT provides a limited number of strategically-placed curbside parking spaces for the exclusive use of carsharing vehicles. These spaces were selected in consultation with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, businesses and community leaders.  No parking spaces reserved for the Residential Parking Permit (RPP) program were used for carsharing vehicles.

DDOT is welcoming comments on the evaluation which can be found on the DDOT website at www.ddot.dc.gov.  Comments should be forwarded to Anna McLaughlin at anna.mclaughlin@dc.gov before January 31, 2008.