- Year-long demonstration study
- New travel option supports one-way trips
- First-mile/last-mile connections to transit
The Arlington County Board today approved an agreement to allow car-sharing company car2go to bring its service to Arlington for a year-long demonstration study.
Car2go’s model allows members to pick up a car in one location and drop it off in another, known as point-to-point. The demonstration study will allow the County to test the service out and see how much point-to-point carsharing benefits Arlington residents and employees, and what, if any issues must be addressed.
“In Arlington, we’re always looking for ways to expand and improve the travel options available to our residents and those who work in our community,” said Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes. “Given the high percentage of workers who commute on transit and the increasing number of Arlington’s corridor residents who opt to live car free, expanded use of carsharing has the potential to add flexibility and reduce vehicle trips and associated parking demand, while increasing quality of life for all.”
The Board voted unanimously to approve the agreement. To read the staff report on this item, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #39 on the Consent Agenda for the June 13, 2015 Regular County Board Meeting.
Easier one-way trips
Car2go’s carsharing model makes it easier to make one-way trips. Travelers can decide to use transit, bike or walk for one part of their trip, and use carsharing for another, making each of these modes more convenient than they might be on their own.
Members pay for vehicle use by the minute
The demonstration study will allow members to park up to 200 car2go vehicles in on-street parking spaces within Arlington without members having to pay parking meter fees.
Typically car2go vehicles only stay in one place for a matter of minutes or a few hours, through the natural functioning and re-balancing of the system by its users. But just in case this doesn’t happen on its own, car2go will move vehicles that stay in one place for 24 hours in Residential Permit Parking zones, and 36 hours in other parts of the County. These instances will be reported to staff through data, and help staff and car2go identify how to make the system work better. This information will be shared periodically with residents and the County Board throughout the demonstration year.
The vehicles will not require reserved spaces, and car2go will pay fees to the County for members’ access to metered parking and residential zones, and to cover program administration and evaluation costs. Members pay for vehicle use by the minute, with all costs bundled into the rate. The demonstration program will be evaluated by County staff after one full year of operation, looking at how well it provides a useful and integrated travel option that supports the vision of the County’s Master Transportation Plan.
About carsharing in Arlington
Arlington County led the Washington metropolitan region by launching the first on-street carsharing program in 2004, partnering with Zipcar and Flexcar. A decade later, carsharing has become an integral piece of Arlington’s transportation system, including its Car-Free Diet program.