Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 13, 2006
Car sharing program expands, companies will share presence at Metro stations
Metro has signed a new contract with Flexcar and Zipcar enabling the two car sharing companies to continue providing services at Metrorail stations in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Flexcar and Zipcar have been awarded one-year contracts with one- one-year options.
Under the terms of the agreement, Flexcar and Zipcar will roll out a total of 89 vehicles available at 34 Metro Kiss & Ride lots over the next four months (a complete list of stations follows). In addition, there are 10 more stations where the car sharing companies will be able to place vehicles if they choose. Currently, the companies have 38 vehicles at 28 stations.
Both companies will have cars at 16 stations (see page 2 for a list). Flexcar will be at five additional stations and Zipcar will be at 13 other stations. In previous years, the companies did not have cars at the same station in advance.
The partnership with the car sharing companies gives Metrorail and Metrobus riders who may not own a personal vehicle easy access to an automobile. They can pick one up at a Metrorail station. To use the service, riders need to register with Flexcar or Zipcar in advance.
Although Metro does not earn income from the partnership with Zipcar and Flexcar, the agency believes that car sharing encourages transit ridership and extends the reach of Metro to areas not served by the traditional rail and bus system. For example, a rider could take Metro to Vienna, pick up a Flexcar or Zipcar at the station, then go to a meeting in Reston, VA.
In a survey conducted earlier this year, nearly 65 percent of Zipcar members and 73 percent of Flexcar members said they got to their vehicles by riding Metrorail first.
The car sharing program is operated by Flexcar and Zipcar, not Metro. For more detailed information about car sharing, contact Flexcar at 202-296-1FLX or www.flexcar.com, or Zipcar at 202-737-4900 or www.zipcar.com.
List of Metrorail stations with Flexcar and/or Zipcar availability:
Addison Road, Anacostia*, Benning Road, Bethesda*, Braddock Road*, Brookland-CUA*, Capitol Heights, College Park-U of Md*, Congress Heights , East Falls Church*, Eisenhower Ave, Forest Glen, Fort Totten, Franconia-Springfield, Glenmont, Greenbelt, Grosevnor-Strathmore , King Street*, Naylor Road, New Carrollton, Prince George’s Plaza*, Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood*, Rockville*, Shady Grove*, Silver Spring*, Southern Ave, Suitland, Takoma*, Tenleytown-AU*, Vienna, West Falls Church*, West Hyattsville, Wheaton*
* indicates stations where both Flexcar and Zipcar will provide services
News release issued on December 13, 2006.