Press Release

Oakland County Launches New OaklandSaves.com Web Site and Oakland RideShare Program

Pontiac, MI, October 15, 2008 – Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson today announced the launch of a new web site, www.OaklandSaves.com, and a new Oakland RideShare Program for its employees. 

The web site is devoted to updating citizens, businesses, organizations and governments about the County’s progress in implementing the 4/40 workweek program, and now its new employee carpooling initiative. Oakland RideShare is a web-based program that connects employees together to find rideshare partners.

Among its goals, the County is encouraging local businesses, governments and others to implement similar programs by providing a wide-array of information and links about cost-savings programs derived from energy-efficient ideas.  To highlight the benefits, businesses and governments are encouraged to fill-out a brief online form to describe how they are implementing cost-savings programs to be featured on the site.  A special “Stats” section will provide ongoing updates on not only the County’s cost-savings progress, but also that of other local governments and businesses in the community, with links to their web sites.

“This new and unique site brings the County’s many cost-savings programs and successes to the public, further helping our employees, citizens and businesses save money and fuel,” said L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive. “The new Oakland Ride Share program provides our employees who choose to participate with an opportunity to find carpooling partners within their commute ranges.  All of this is possible with existing technologies and information systems we have in-house.” 

The site was designed to provide a comprehensive approach to energy conservation to help employees further reduce their gas and energy costs and outline ways they can protect the environment.  It also delivers a community-based approach to support local governments and businesses as they find ways to save money and promote environmental savings among their employees.

The new Oakland Ride Share program, a feature within the OaklandSaves.com site, provides employees with a secure login that they may activate on their own through a web-based interface to participate in the program. Once activated, the employee’s home, or base, location appears as a pinpoint location on an interactive map. The employee’s work phone number is provided so that employees can arrange to share rides with each other. 
 
“The Oakland Rideshare Program is a great example of how the power of our Geographic Information Systems technology can be used to directly drive down costs of doing business,” said Phil Bertolini, Oakland County Chief Deputy Executive/CIO. “With more than 4,000 employees, the savings of carpooling can add up pretty quick, putting money directly back into their pockets.”

A four-day/40-hour work week was the first initiative launched to address the rising costs. By allowing County employees to work four, 10-hour work days, employees are able to reduce their commuting costs by 20% and ease the financial burden felt every time they fill up their vehicle. 

For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Media and Communications Officer, at (248) 858-1048.  Download logos and other media assets from www.oakgov.com/media.

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