BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray will travel from Worcester to Boston's South Station via commuter rail on Friday, September 30 to celebrate Walk/Ride Day. Held on the last Friday of every month, Walk/Ride Day encourages people to use public transportation, ride a bicycle and walk instead of driving cars when commuting to work and school.
“Taking public transportation, bicycling or walking are great alternatives to driving that are good for the environment,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “Our administration is pleased to partner with the Green Streets Initiative to highlight these options for commuters who can go ‘green’ for their commute.”
The Lt. Governor will take the 6:55 AM Worcester/Framingham route from Worcester to Boston's South Station, arriving there at 8:23 AM. He will be joined in his commute by MBTA Acting General Manager Jonathan Davis. Davis is contributing a lunch with 3 winners of this Friday's online Walk/Ride Day check-in raffle (to enter, go to www.GoGreenStreets.org).
Upon arrival at South Station, Murray and Davis will greet commuters to thank and congratulate them for their healthy and sustainable car-free transportation choices. They will be joined by Walk/Ride Day founder Janie Katz-Christy, MBTA Director of Capital Planning Joseph Cosgrove, Boston's Environment and Energy Chief Jim Hunt, and Boston Bikes Director Nicole Freedman. There will be a brief press conference highlighting Walk/Ride Day's expansion into Boston and other communities in the region.
The event, sponsored by South Station, the Green Streets Initiative, with special thanks to Tufts Health Plan, will feature music, light refreshments, exhibits by a variety of transportation and community organizations, along with giveaways and raffles by local businesses. Boston Bikes will demonstrate the Hubway, Boston's new bikeshare program, and will give commuters coupons to try it out.
"The goal of Walk/Ride Day is to create happier, healthier communities," said Walk/Ride Day founder Janie Katz-Christy. "Everyone knows how important it is to exercise more and drive less. Walk/Ride Days give people that extra incentive to get started."
“We continue to promote public transportation as a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to the car,” said MBTA Acting General Manager Jon Davis. “Walk/Ride Day provides us the opportunity to emphasize to the public the importance of making healthy transportation choices such as public transit, bicycling, and walking.”
"South Station is proud to host this event and help Boston kick off Walk/Ride Days in the city," said Ted Furst of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corp., the event manager of South Station. “We hope to have more Walk/Ride Day events here at South Station in the future.”
"Sustainable commuting is vital to the city and state, and Walk/Ride Day forces us all to stop and consider how to make our commutes – whether by bicycle, on foot, commuter rail, Amtrak, bus or MBTA – more green,” said Sandi Lally, Vice President of Operations for Equity Office Properties, which manages the retail and office space at South Station.
About Walk/Ride Day
Walk/Ride Day is observed in numerous workplaces and schools in Cambridge and Somerville, and the program has received federal DOT funding (through MassDOT's Clean Air and Mobility Program) to extend into Boston, Medford, Lynn, and Everett. Local businesses can get involved by providing rewards, such as discounts or giveaways, to anyone who participates. Walk/Ride Day is promoted by the Green Streets Initiative, a Boston-region nonprofit.
About Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (BRV Corp.)
Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corporation is the private consulting firm of Daniel A. Biederman. In Boston, BRV Corp. is working with the City of Boston to improve the Boston Common, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to improve the Charles River Esplanade. Dan Biederman is co-founder of the Bryant Park Corporation and 34th Street Partnership, and creator of the largest complex of private urban redevelopment projects in the United States. Additional information is at: http://www.brvcorp.com.
About Equity Office Properties
Equity Office owns and operates a national portfolio of premier office buildings in major metropolitan markets across the country. The company is owned by an affiliate of The Blackstone Group, a preeminent global private equity firm. Equity Office was acquired in 2007, bringing Equity Office's portfolio together with other Blackstone office asset holdings, primarily from its acquisitions of CarrAmerica Properties and Trizec Properties. Integrating these predominantly Class A properties under one name - Equity Office - provides Blackstone with an unparalleled real estate platform for future office investments. Our goal is to leverage our national platform to facilitate the seamless acquisition and transition of properties into and out of the portfolio, in support of Blackstone's real estate investments philosophy. We actively manage our assets to ensure not only the best possible customer experience, but also gainful returns for Blackstone's investors. Equity Office is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and has approximately 750 employees. www.equityoffice.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50010428&lang=en