The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) will join local public officials and the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), The Columbus Dispatch and Tim Hortons on Thursday, June 18, to celebrate the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) National Dump the Pump Day.

Dump the Pump Day asks people to "dump the gas pump" by giving up their car on June 18, by carpooling, walking, riding their bike or using public transit. On the corner of Broad Street and High Street, from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. legislators and volunteers will be passing out free copies of The Columbus Dispatch and Tim Hortons coffee while demonstrating cost savings through taking transit, carpooling, vanpooling and biking to work.

MORPC's RideSolutions will be on hand to assist commuters in forming carpools, vanpools and provide bike to work information. "Many commuters feel they cannot use an alternative mode of transportation to get to work because of unexpected home requests or emergencies. Our Guaranteed Ride Home program will reimburse for a taxi ride home in case of emergencies," stated Chester Jourdan, executive director of Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

For more information on MORPC's RideSolutions program visit www.morpc.org or call 1-888-742-RIDE (7433).

MORPC is a voluntary association of 47 local governments in central Ohio serving the region through planning, direct service, public policy information and innovative programming and intergovernmental coordinating services in the areas of transportation, land use, energy conservation, the environment and housing. MORPC is currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary and its efforts to build a better central Ohio region.