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<br />. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />') <br /> <br />'j <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />> Some ridesharing and vanpooling is currently taking place <br />with commuters in the Elk River and Big Lake area. A 12 <br />person vanpool, originating in Big Lake, commutes to <br />downtown Minneapolis each day. Informal carpools use <br />several areas as park and ride lots, some of which are on <br />private property. A need was expressed for the existing <br />lots to be upgraded and for a new park and ride lot to be <br />created on the western side of the City of Elk River. <br /> <br />> Two of the greatest problems are the lack of awareness of <br />opportunities for "corridor commuters" between St. Cloud <br />and the Twin Cities, and a lack of coordination between <br />different modes of transportation. Technology is being <br />improved to allow for more effective networking and <br />linking of options. <br /> <br />> The Twin City MTC is subsidized by taxes levied in the <br />seven county metropolitan area which constitutes the <br />limits of its service area. It may be possible for cities <br />like Elk River and Cambridge to arrange for an extension <br />of services to their areas for a negotiated fee. <br /> <br />Analvsis <br /> <br />> As a working definition of transit, the Elk River Area <br />Citizens league has adopted the proposal of the Twin <br />City Citizens League several years ago, namely that <br />transit is defined in its broadest meaning, and involves <br />any means by which commuters and travelers share <br />transportation, including public transportation of every <br />kind, informal carpooling and vanpooling. <br /> <br />> One of the objectives in this report is adopted from <br />Rideshare, namely to reduce the number of single rider <br />vehicles on the highways. This objective will encourage <br />the use of walking, biking and telecommuting as well as <br />the sharing of vehicles for transportation. <br /> <br />> An effective solution for reducing the number of single <br />rider vehicles with currently available programs will <br />probably involve a combination of education and awareness <br />for the public, along with incentives by government and <br />employers to encourage the sharing of transportation. <br /> <br />Recommendations <br /> <br />> Community focus on improvement of congestion conditions <br />is needed. Carpooling and vanpooling, or other multiple <br /> <br />7 <br />