Metro-North, Zipcar launch car-sharing initiative
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
MTA Metro-North Railroad and Zipcar, a leading provider of vehicle sharing services, on Feb. 24 launched the Hudson Valley Car Share initiative at nine train stations in New York State’s Hudson Valley. Passengers “can conveniently take a Zipcar from the station and easily travel to tourist destinations and other locations throughout the region,” Metro-North said.
The program is part of a new Metro-North initiative called Ride2Drive that “aims to encourage visitors to travel to the Hudson Valley and at the same time increase mobility to New Yorkers who don’t own cars,” the railroad said. Fourteen Zipcars (Honda Civics, Jeep Renegades and Honda CR-Vs). are parked at dedicated, clearly marked spaces at station lots, “providing Metro-North customers with the ease and simplicity of stepping off the train, hopping into a Zipcar and conveniently continuing on to destinations beyond the station.” Each Zipcar reservation includes gas, insurance, maintenance and 180 miles of driving per day.
Within the next year, the program is expected to expand to an additional 24 Metro-North stations in New York State, both east and west of the Hudson River.
Zipcars are available at the North White Plains and Woodlawn stations (Harlem Line); Poughkeepsie and Beacon stations (Hudson Line); and Port Chester, Harrison, Mamaroneck, Pelham and Mount Vernon East stations (New Haven Line). In addition to the Metro-North stations, Zipcar provides access to thousands of vehicles in greater New York for reservation by the hour or day. Prospective members can join the service instantly though the Zipcar mobile app or online at www.zipcar.com/metro-north.
“We are always seeking ways to make access to our stations easier and more convenient,” said Metro-North President Joseph Giulietti. “The ease of having Zipcars at our stations will add a new travel option and make our train service that much more attractive and competitive.”
“Zipcar’s partnership with Metro-North provides more people in more places with convenient access to a set of wheels,” said Zipcar President Tracey Zhen. “Area visitors and residents now have all the benefits of car ownership without the cost or hassle at easy to access locations.”
