Seminar addresses commuting challenges

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: May 29, 2008

For Prince William commuters going into the Washington, D.C., area, the old cliché "getting there is half the fun" hardly applies.

In fact, the distance traveled to and from work and the time it takes is a primary complaint for area employers and employees.

To address this issue, Commuter Connections and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission conducted a free seminar on Thursday to offer advice on solutions to the housing and commuting challenges facing local commuters.

The program, at the Four Points by Sheraton in Manassas, got off to an ironic start when some of the speakers and guests arrived up to 40 minutes late because of traffic on Sudley Road at the intersection of Interstate 66, with cars heading into Northern Virginia and D.C.

Justin Schor, employer services contractor with Commuter Connections, offered a variety of ideas on his topic "Transportation Solutions for Prince William County."

He said his department offers free services to commuters on such programs as carpooling, vanpooling, commuter rail and Metrorail, teleworking, flextime and compressed work schedules and a guaranteed ride home.

"We want to ease traffic all around the region and work with transportation organizations to improve commuting in and around the region," Schor said.

He urged any employer or employee to get in touch with his department "so we can customize a person's needs, taking into considerate location, accessibility to transit, work hours and type of work on site."

"We want employees to get to work less stressed and ready to start a productive day," he said.

Mark Hersey, regional coordinator employer outreach for Commuter Connections, said "the trend of employ-ees who are living farther away from their jobs in worsening, creating longer commutes and with the population and job growth bring the side effect of growing congestion."

He added, "Nationally, a working family spends 77 cents more on transportation for every dollar saving on housing. The Washington, D.C., metropolitan region has one of the least affordable housing markets, especially in the region's outer suburban area where nearly everyone drives to and from work."

Hersey said, "One possible solution for workers and employers is to consider shrinking the distance between home and work. This will help ease stress as well as reduce commuting costs."

He noted that employers should try to help employees find affordable housing closer to their work, since it helps to recruit and retain valuable employees, which improves the company's bottom line.

Laurie Wieder, Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce president, said she found the morning gridlock "to be a rare instance."

She praised the county for raising money to pay for building roads.

"It used to be a long drive from Woodbridge to the Gainesville-Haymarket area, but now you can do it in a half-hour or so," she said.

"We have a lot to offer in the way of good transportation and affordable housing … with a lot more infra-structure planned to keep this area an attractive one," she said.

The other two speakers, Linda Wine with the Virginia Housing Development Authority and Joan Duckett with Manassas Housing Trust Fund, discussed the various affordable housing programs available in the county and city.

They both stressed one of the greatest challenges of economic growth has been addressing the jobs-housing balance within the county and city.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.