For Immediate Release

Contact:           Diana Burton Utz, Director of TDM Programs
                        George Washington Regional Commission
                        (540) 373-7665          

RADCO RIDESHARE ASSUMES ITS NEW IDENTITY

RADCO Rideshare, the regional ridesharing agency that assists people seeking commuter transportation options from the City of Fredericksburg and Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties, has a new name: GWRideConnect.  The George Washington Regional Commission – which runs the ridesharing program – passed a resolution changing the name at its April 16th meeting.

According to the GWRC’s Diana Utz, the old name – which was a reflection of the Commission’s former name “Rappahannock Area Development Commission,” or “RADCO” – became outdated when RADCO changed its name to George Washington Regional Commission in October 2006.  “While ‘RADCO Rideshare’ is fairly well-recognized around the region, it just did not mirror the Commission’s new name,” said Utz.

Selecting a new name proved to be a challenge.  “We wanted to come up with a name that somehow reflected the Commission’s name but also conveyed what it is that we do,” Utz said.  To get maximum input, Utz asked rideshare clients as well as members of the GWRC staff for ideas.  “We had quite a few suggestions,” said Utz, “including ‘GW Ride Connectors,’ which we ended up modifying to GWRideConnect.  We liked how it mimicked the abbreviation of the Commission’s name.”  The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation – which funds the rideshare program – agreed to the name change.

GWRideConnect is currently working with a graphic designer to develop a new logo and other promotional materials for the rideshare program, which currently supports approximately 330 vanpools that transport nearly 4,000 commuters a week to locations throughout Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and southern Maryland.  Commuters seeking information on vanpools, carpools or transit options can call (540) 373-POOL (7665) or visit the GWRideConnect page at www.gwregion.org.