The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is looking for people to help test a new application designed to improve carpooling. MTC is a public agency responsible for planning and funding transportation in the Bay Area.

RedFlag App Verifies Carpool Usage

MTC Express Lanes help speed traffic and reduce congestion – but only when the lanes are used by qualified vehicles. Many qualified vehicles are carpools with multiple passengers. MTC has partnered with RideFlag to test a smart phone application that can help people who carpool in the I-680 corridor in Contra Costa County. The app counts occupants in a vehicle to confirm that they meet the Express Carpool Lane occupancy requirement. By helping keep the lanes for eligible users, the app can help ensure that carpoolers have faster trips.

Pilot Program Participants Sought

MTC is seeking drivers to volunteer as participants in the Express Carpool Check pilot program. The Express Carpool Check provided by RideFlag app lets drivers show how many people are in the vehicle. If the number of people qualifies as a carpool, the program volunteer can receive up to $300 in the form of an Amazon gift card as a reward for participation. The pilot program will be tested with volunteers who travel on the Interstate 680 Contra Costa Express Lanes corridor between Martinez and Dublin. This pilot study is looking for participants who are willing to download and use the carpool app for up to three - one-month periods starting in early September. Participants will be requested to complete surveys and will also be eligible to participate in optional focus groups to evaluate the app for potential future deployment on Bay Area roadways. A $100 Amazon gift card for each one-month period will be awarded to those who complete the required pilot activities. During this pilot phase, drivers will still need to activate their FasTrak® Flex tags when driving in the Express Lanes.

How to Participate

Participation enrollment is available now. To learn more about the pilot study and register to participate if interested, please visit mtc.ca.gov/ExpressCarpoolCheck.

Additional Information

Additional information on the pilot program and participation is available. For details, please refer to the MTC representative below.

Contact Information

Sarah Burnworth
MTC
375 Beale Street, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94105-2066
(415) 778-6700 phone    (415) 536-9800 fax
mtcpilot@bayareametro.gov e-mail     mtc.ca.gov WWW

Hacienda Owners Association
4305 Hacienda Drive, Suite 330, Pleasanton, California  94588-2738
(925) 734-6500 phone     (925) 734-6501 fax
info@hacienda.org e-mail     www.hacienda.org WWW