King County Metro Transit is using the Madison-Miller community on Seattle's Capitol Hill to test an innovative project designed to increase the use of transit, bicycling and foot power. The goal is to provide education and incentives that encourage everyone in the neighborhood to travel in healthier ways for themselves and their community.

Metro is working with Madison-Miller residents and businesses over a three-month period to make it easier to leave their cars behind and travel by bus, bike, foot or other non-motorized methods.

The "Madison-Miller In Motion" project was created by Metro and is funded through federal grants. It is also a partnership between King County and local neighborhood organizations, businesses and community groups. It will run through mid-June in this neighborhood, and could be a model for future programs in other areas of the county.

The demonstration project starts with Metro providing convenient travel information and assistance. This comes via a project website; information mailed directly to 2,700 homes in the community; colorful posters spread throughout the neighborhood; and an all-ages transportation celebration on Saturday, May 1 at the Miller Community Center.

Secondly, the program provides incentives to prompt local residents to make healthier travel choices. Those who join and participate in "Club Motion" are eligible to receive Metro free-ride tickets, reduced rates for Flexcar car-sharing, vouchers for other transit passes and tickets, plus they are entered into drawings to win prizes donated by local merchants.

Club Motion is open to those who: live in the neighborhood within the boundaries of the pilot project; are 16 or older; and have at least one car in their household. The only other requirement is that participants pledge to convert at least two car trips per week to traveling by bus, bike, carpool or foot.

To help with both the education and the incentives, the program has a Transportation Action Team (TAT). The TAT members are in the neighborhood distributing information, coordinating volunteers, and helping with events. They will also be handing out "random rewards" to people who are making smart travel choices by leaving their cars at home.

Local students from Meany Middle School and Coyote Junior High have also been involved in setting up the program by providing some of the walking-route research and some of the artwork used in publications and on the website.

The program and participants will be on display at two upcoming events:

Saturday, April 24 – Visit the Madison-Miller In Motion booth at the YMCA’s "Healthy Kids Day" event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Meredith Matthews East Madison YMCA, 301 21st Avenue East;

Saturday, May 1 – The Madison-Miller "Spring Into Motion" event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will celebrate spring and smart travel choices at the Miller Community Center, 330 19th Avenue East. There will be self-guided walks and bike rides through the neighborhood, activities for kids, and plenty of information about the program. Watch for more details.