Shift Insider Blog

The Golden Triangle is going through a period of tremendous growth! Nearly 50 major public, private and transportation infrastructure projects are underway or planned over the next five years. The Shift team is here to help mitigate the impact of possible challenges created by construction and provide transportation choices to make it easier to get around. Check out the shift blog to stay up-to-date on the latest Golden Triangle transportation resources and experiences from commuters, residents and families in this area.

Side by Side We Make a Shift Together
by Shift San Diego | Aug 04, 2017
SANDAG along with its partners, the City of San Diego, University of California San Diego, Metropolitan Transit System and Caltrans launched the expansion of Shift San Diego this week. An employer in the University City/Golden Triangle area, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, also spoke about how Shift has been an important resource for their employees and how they commute to work. Shift has been designed to provide residents, businesses and commuters impacted by construction with information and resources to minimize disruption, confusion and potential traffic challenges. With an anticipated 50 projects over the next 5 years in the University City /Golden Triangle community, the program will also serve as a unique hub for coordination and regular communication between the many construction teams involved with each major project. As an important component in reducing traffic congestion, Shift also continues to be a resource for transportation solutions. Check out the event coverage:
‘San Diego’s Go-To Transportation Solution’: City launches Shift platform eyeing 50 Golden Triangle/La Jolla construction projects (La Jolla Light)
New Website Helps San Diegans Navigate Through UC Construction (Times of San Diego)
 Website to help navigate University City construction projects (FOX 5) 
50 Construction Projects Planned in Golden Triangle (NBC 7)
As Golden Triangle construction intensifies, commuters get high-tech help (ABC 10)
SANDAG prepares for traffic increases due to nearly 50 construction projects in ‘Golden Circle’ (KUSI)
New Program’s Aim: Brace Region for Golden Triangle Construction Impacts (San Diego Business Journal)
A new resource for residents navigating UTC construction projects -- Shift San Diego (Nextdoor)





Aug 04, 2017
Take the Wheel: Savings that You Can Achieve
by Shift San Diego | Jul 21, 2017
Going to work is something we all do everyday. The commute becomes part of our daily routine. Because it is so mundane, it is good to take some time to reflect on the work commute.
You Can Learn About Your Car Costs
Have you ever thought about how much money you spend using your car? Here is an estimate from AAA on the average cost per mile for a vehicle. If you drive 15,000 miles in a year, you are spending approximately $8,565.


Costs per mile includes: fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance, license, registration and taxes, depreciation, and finance charges.

Source: AAA Exchange
You Can Save with Carpooling
Find a friend, colleague or co-worker through iCommute. You can share a ride to work and could potentially find major savings. Carpooling is an easy way to instantly reduce your commuting costs by up to 50 percent or more. You could potentially cut the cost of gas in half and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle because you will be driving less. That will mean lower maintenance costs for your vehicle and, if you reduce your vehicle's mileage significantly, less depreciation of your vehicle's value. Savings can vary based on several factors, such as how often you carpool, the number of people in the carpool, commute distance, and the type of vehicle. Keep in mind that this table does not include parking fees. You can calculate your own commute here and see how much you could save through a carpool, vanpool or taking transit.  For more information about the total costs of driving, click here.
You Are the Traffic Solution
Still not convinced to try carpooling? Think about the bigger picture. Next time you are stuck in rush hour traffic or taking a detour around a construction project, look around. There are a lot of people driving by themselves. What if we could reduce the number of cars on the road by half if we all carpooled? How would the road or freeway look like now? Now think about this quote from James McGrath, “You are not stuck in traffic. You are traffic.” You have the power to do something. Take the wheel and try a different way of commuting and carpool.
You Get More Than Just Monetary Benefits
Bonus – Less cars on the road helps keep the air clean, which helps combat climate change.  It also reduces demand for more roadway infrastructure and therefore preserves and maintains more open and green space in the community.
Give carpooling a try. It`s good for your wallet, well-being, and the environment. For more information about carpooling and how to get started, click here.
 



Jul 21, 2017
A Commute that Wins!
by Shift San Diego | Jun 26, 2017
Congratulations to Sean, Director of Global Engagement & Advancement for UC San Diego. He was the winning recipient of May`s iCommute monthly prize package from SportsRX, which included a pair of sunglasses, a $50 gift certificate, and a water bottle. Simply by logging his alternative commute trips in his iCommute account, he was automatically entered in the monthly prize drawing. Sean shares his commute experience to encourage others to give it a try and shift the way people get to work.
“My first day commuting to UC San Diego took 20 minutes to get to campus and over two hours to get home. Coming from Boston and using the subway system to commute before that, I wasn’t sure if a two-hour return commute was the exception or the rule. I used my first night of work to research commuting options and found out that the COASTER was the most convenient form of public transit for me. Now I take it daily from Encinitas and it is only a 35-minute commute each way.
Riding the COASTER gives me a way to decompress on the way home from work. It also helped me with my studies when I was completing my part-time MBA allowing me to study and do work while commuting. And, I save money. It is actually cheaper than driving. I have to pay for parking, so the COASTER is cheaper when you consider the parking fees and at least two tanks of gas per month. The benefits of a COASTER commute make me feel like a winner already; the prize is just an added-bonus.”
Feeling inspired and curious to find a new way to get to work? Take it from Sean and try a different commute. Use the TripPlanner to compare different transportation modes from Point A to Point B and figure out what might be best for you. Make sure to log your trips at least 8 times per month in TripTracker to be automatically entered in the iCommute monthly prize drawing. There are different prizes every month.  In June iCommute will be raffling two $100 gift cards for Amtrak and in July the prizes will be two $100 gift cards for Alaska Airlines. 
 
 



Jun 26, 2017
Bike to Work Day: A `Wheel` Good Time Commuting to Work with the Community
by Shift San Diego | Jun 07, 2017
More than 10,500 visits at 100 pit stops throughout San Diego County were recorded on Bike to Work Day, May 18. Eleven of those pit stops were located in or adjacent to the Golden Triangle community. Pit stops offered fun breaks for both new and experienced bike riders to rest and pick up a FREE t-shirt, snacks, and encouragement. Thanks to these neighbors for hosting a pit stop:
• Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Biocom, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals: 10931 North Torrey Pines Road
• Aroma Housewares Co.: 6557 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego 92126
• Competitor Group: Park & Ride under the 56 & 5 freeway merge
• Cycle Quest: Located in the Sorrento Valley Coaster Station
• Illumina: 5200 Illumina Way
• Leidos and JLL: Corner of Campus Point Dr. and Campus Point Court

  

• LPL Financial: 4707 Executive Dr.
• Qualcomm: Northwest corner of Lusk Blvd. and Pacific Center Blvd. 
      
• Scripps Memorial Hospital: On Voigt Dr. (near 9850 Genesee Ave.)
• Surfrider Foundation San Diego: 9399 La Jolla Shores Dr.
• UC San Diego: 9500 Gillman Dr. (Town Square Plaza at University Center)
       
For more event photos, click here.
Keep up the way you travel to work and GO by BIKE. Click on these links for more information on GO by BIKE, riding tips, and bike safety and security.



Jun 07, 2017
Biking revelations: Save time and feel like a kid again!
by Shift San Diego | May 15, 2017
Take it from Jim. His bike commute to work is 16 miles from Carlsbad to Torrey Pines. As an avid biker for 43 years and with 18 years of experience working in the retail bike industry, he is an advocate for biking and is helping others to join in the experience. Jim was the featured speaker in the second annual Bike 101 Seminar hosted by Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Biocom, and his employer – Vertex Pharmaceuticals.  He said he with started off biking one day a week to work and then began riding more, increasing to 3 days a week. He now commutes by bike up to 200 days a year, traveling over 6,000 miles! He advised that if you are just starting out, you may want to consider a longer, easier route if the shorter route might be more difficult.
He also shares his perspective about the benefits of biking. His comparison shows getting your workout done by biking while also shaving a bit of time from your commute routine.

In addition to Jim, Pedego Electric Bikes representative Sean also presented at the seminar and gave information to the attendees about electric bikes. Sean comments, “An electric bike is just like a regular bike – only better! You can pedal normally (or not) & get assistance up to 20 MPH. It feels like being a kid again!”
So tune up your bike and get ready to ride. Bike to Work Day is coming up on Thursday, May 18. Register here to be eligible for a free t-shirt at any of the 100 pit stops throughout the region. We would love to hear from you about your bike commute experience and learn about the shift you made in your commute. Email us your story at info@ShiftSanDiego.com.
 



May 15, 2017
Discover a new way to get around the Mid-Coast Trolley Construction
by Shift San Diego | Apr 24, 2017


Pedestrian Bridge Demolition. Photo credit: Moises Peña, MCTC

Construction activities for the Mid-Coast Trolley extension continue in the University City area, along Genesee Avenue and at UC San Diego (UCSD).  This month crews demolished and permanently removed the pedestrian bridge at Executive Square and Genesee Avenue and installed a new temporary pedestrian crossing at the street level. Eventually this will be replaced by the new Executive Drive Station, which will also serve as a pedestrian crossing.
 
Rendering of Executive Drive Station.
This spring, crews will be preparing the roadway for construction of the viaduct - a bridge structure that will carry the trolley down the middle of Genesee Avenue. Crews will start widening southbound Genesee Avenue to relocate utilities, constructing the viaduct on the UCSD Campus, and working on the Gilman Drive Bridge structure. During this time, there will be ongoing, intermittent closures of on- and off- ramps and lanes at the La Jolla Village Drive exit on Interstate5. For more information or to sign up for project updates, please visit www.KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/MidCoast.
During construction, there may be times when it might be easier to take an alternative route to work. Make sure to check out the Shift interactive map to access real-time traffic information. You can view which routes are free-flowing and which are congested to help you plan your commute. Also, use the trip planner to compare alternative commutes, such as carpool, vanpool, transit, bike or walk. Enter your origin and destination in the trip planner, press the “Let`s Go” button, and discover a new way to get around.



Apr 24, 2017
Mobile Ticketing Has Arrived with Compass Cloud
by Shift San Diego | Apr 14, 2017
MTS and NCTD are changing the way San Diego moves with the Compass Cloud. The new smartphone app is making it easier to purchase transit passes on the go. Here’s what’s new with the app:
• Purchase one-day and 30-day passes right from your smartphone by using your credit, debit, prepaid debit card, or PayPal account. The app saves your payment information so getting more passes on the go is a snap.
• Use passes immediately after making a payment using the Compass Cloud.
• Stock up on passes and activate as you need them or ride with friends and family with the Multiple Riders option.
The Compass Cloud tickets are accepted everywhere your Compass Card is - MTS Bus, Rapid and Trolley and NCTD BREEZE, SPRINTER and COASTER.
To learn how to use the Compass Cloud, click here.
For more info on the Compass Cloud and to read frequently asked questions, click here.




Apr 14, 2017
A Sunset Commute
by Shift San Diego | Apr 03, 2017
Debra is a newcomer to her alternative commute. She takes the COASTER from her home in San Marcos to get to her work site at Illumina. Her daily commute as a solo driver can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. On days when she can ride the COASTER, her commute is approximately 20 minutes and is less stressful. Through her change in commute just six months ago, she has traveled almost 1,600 miles using the COASTER, which equates to 800 pounds of CO2 reduced and savings of over $200. Read about her experience of how she got started.

Q: What motivates you to commute alternatively?
A: I’m motivated to take alternative transportation to save wear on my car, save money on gas, and avoid the stress of traffic.

Q: How did you get started?
A: A family member shared the information with me and then I took the train. It was super easy and convenient.

Q: How often do you commute alternatively?
A: I try to as much as possible. I currently average about 3 times a week and I work remotely one day a week as well.

Q: What do you like about your alternative commute?
A: You can enjoy the view, read, and relax at the end of the day.

Q: What is the most challenging part your alternative commute?
A: When there is bad weather like rain, it can be really challenging to find cover at the train station. There are rare occasions when the trains shut down as well.

Q: How does your company support your alternative commute?
A: They provide the opportunity to pay for transportation with pre‐tax dollars and also offer complimentary shuttles to and from the coaster station. They also have raffles and social media for commuter groups.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to try an alternative commute?
A: Don’t be afraid to try it. It’s really easy and convenient.

Q: What are the benefits of your alternative commute?
A: Less stress!

Q: With your choice to use the COASTER when you can for your commute, you`ve been able to save over $200 in the last 6 months. What do you plan to do with these unexpected savings?
A: While it’s always nice to buy something for yourself, I plan to save the money for a rainy day.

Q: Describe an enjoyable experience of your alternative commute.
A: Recently on a ride home, we got to see a beautiful sunset from the window. It was gorgeous. We also saw the red brake lights of traffic on the other side and we were glad to not be stuck in bumper to bumper traffic!
Take it from her and try a different commute to work. Use the trip planner to compare different commutes from Point A to Point B and figure out what might be best for your new commute.




 



Apr 03, 2017