Hacienda's First-Time Rider Incentive Program Offers Everything You Need for Easy Commuting, from Almost Anywhere in the Bay Area

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Saving time and money is a goal that is shared by many, but can be difficult to achieve. It's easy to do when you use a commute alternative, however. Hacienda provides a number of resources to make commuting easier, including a New Rider program that offers a variety of free incentives for anyone interested in trying out alternative commutes.

A Wide Variety of Options

Hacienda sits at the junction of over eight different transit services. For those interested in trying one of these services, there are a number of incentives to help get started.

Free WHEELS passes All employees and residents in Hacienda may obtain a free WHEELS pass to use anywhere, anytime on the WHEELS system. This service includes all local buses and links between BART and ACE as well as free access to the I-680 Express bus from Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill.

To obtain a pass, simply access the online application at the Hacienda web site. Follow the instructions and a WHEELS pass will be sent to your employer. You can also obtain an order form from the Hacienda offices at 4473 Willow, Suite 105, or by calling the Transportation Hotline at (925) 734-6551.

You Can't Beat BART Are you a first-time rider interested in a free ride on the Bay Area's most comprehensive rail system? Simply place your order to request a BART new rider ticket. Hacienda will send you a special invitation from BART to try their system with an $8 BART ticket, which is enough to get a round-trip ride to work on the house. BART's network of trains cover most of the Bay Area, making it the commute of choice for hundreds of thousands of people. More information on BART can be found online at www.bart.gov.

ACE Your Commute Direct access from the San Joaquin Valley is yours on the ACE commuter rail system. First-time riders receive a free round-trip ticket and an opportunity to purchase your first monthly pass at half price. Train schedules and rider information are accessible online at the ACE web site.

Try A SMART Trip Commuters from Stockton, Manteca, and Tracy can travel to Hacienda in comfort and style on SMART, which offers its buses during commute hours to carry employees to Hacienda from San Joaquin County. Free round-trip tickets are available for first-time riders.

You can find detailed information on routes and schedules online at www.sj-smart.com.

Express Yourself With Tri-Delta Transit Commuters from Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood and Byron can get out of their cars and into comfortable, state-of-the-art buses for a relaxing ride to Hacienda. New riders can try a free round-trip ride and a two-for-one discount on their first monthly pass. Route information is available online.

Other Commuter Support Programs

Hacienda also has information on a variety of commuter support programs that can reduce the cost of your commute and provide benefits for both employer and employee.

Commuter Choice Commuter Choice is a special program which allows employers to provide items like transit tickets and vanpool fees as a pre-tax benefit, thus saving money for both employers and employees. The program allows employers to pay up to $100 in transit benefits per month. Contact Hacienda for more details.

Guaranteed Ride Home Using the Alameda County Congestion Management Authority's (CMA) free Guaranteed Ride Home program guarantees that you won't get stranded at work after using an alternative commute mode. All Hacienda companies are eligible to participate. For additional information, see the Guaranteed Ride Home web site.

RIDES Services RIDES for Bay Area Commuters offers expertise on the use of alternate forms of transportation and provides innovative programs for commute solutions. Their most popular program matches riders for carpools and vanpools. You can obtain a "matchlist," a list of fellow commuters with similar commute origins and destinations, online and learn all about RIDES' commute assistance programs at www.rides.org.

Additional Information

Hacienda has assembled a huge network of information on all of the above programs and more. For details, simply access the Hacienda web site.

Program materials are also available through the Hacienda Owners Association's office at 4473 Willow Road, Suite 105, or by calling (925) 734-6500.

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