Date:
Monday, May 01, 2006
Contact:
Tonia Buell, (360) 705-7439, or buellt@wsdot.wa.gov
OLYMPIA - The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently selected 17 projects to receive over $1.3 million in funding under the Trip Reduction Performance Program (TRPP). These projects will remove a combined total of 3,831 daily commute vehicle trips from our state highway system. The Washington State Legislature created the TRPP program in 2003 to encourage private companies, public agencies, developers, and property managers to provide services and incentives that get people out of their cars and onto buses, trains, vanpools, and other commute alternatives.
The Duwamish Transportation Management Association received nearly $264,000, one of the larger TRPP awards. The project, which helps businesses and employees prepare for the closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, is expected to reduce a total of 600 daily vehicle commute trips in the south Seattle industrial neighborhood that stretches from the professional sports stadiums to King County International Airport.
"We need more space on our neighborhood streets for trucks," said Dave Gering, association director. "This funding is the cornerstone of an innovative project that will move more people and vehicles efficiently in the Duwamish area."
In a small TRPP project, Yakima Transit and AB Foods, LLC were awarded $10,120 to help operate two vans for employees commuting to the company's remote industrial location. Two other vans that were initially funded under an earlier project 2003-2005 are now paying for themselves. The bi-cultural workforce of Washington Beef was initially unfamiliar with vanpooling but came to appreciate arriving safely and on time while saving money. The new project will serve a waiting list of individuals and is expected to reduce 22 trips each day.
For a complete list of projects selected for the 2005-2007 TRPP, please visit: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/tdm/program_summaries/trpp_projects_2005-2007.cfm
In addition to TRPP, WSDOT uses the Commute Trip Reduction Program and the Vanpool Program to improve the efficiency of the transportation system by reducing drive-alone commuting. Companies and agencies that reduce employee commute trips may also reduce business costs such as taxes and employee parking.
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