Date:  Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Contact: Katy Taylor, WSDOT Public Transportation Division, 360.705.7920
Victoria Tobin, WSDOT Public Transportation Division, 206.375.2412

OLYMPIA— Did you know that there are 28,000 fewer vehicles on the road every weekday thanks to employers and communities across the state who support commute trip reduction programs? That’s enough vehicles to stretch single file from Olympia to Everett.

Approximately 530,000 people are employed at worksites that participate in commute trip reduction programs. This translates to 62 million fewer vehicle miles traveled annually and saves three million gallons of fuel and 27,490 metric tons of greenhouse gases.

Governor Chris Gregoire recognized the efforts of these employers and communities today by announcing the winners of the 2010 Governor’s Commute Smart Awards at a ceremony hosted at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia.

“Our state’s commute trip reduction program is a great example of what can happen when public and private organizations work together to promote transportation choices other than just driving alone,” said Gregoire. “The award winners this year have achieved meaningful and measurable results in reducing drive-alone commutes on our busiest roads.”

The Governor’s Commute Smart Awards recognize communities, businesses, agencies and employee transportation coordinators. The awards recognize the benefits – like better traffic flow and cleaner air - that are shared by all. For every $1 the state invests in these programs, businesses invest an additional $18, maximizing commute trip reduction programs for everyone in the state.

“When more people reduce drive alone trips, everyone benefits with cleaner air, less fuel consumption and decreased wear and tear on our state’s roadways,” said Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond. “The efforts by award winners and nominees make a difference. It’s important to take time to acknowledge and appreciate their innovation and dedication.”

By delivering innovative, comprehensive programs that address their employees’ transportation needs, these award winners serve as examples for the more than 1,000 worksites in the state who implement commute trip reduction programs.

This year’s awards recognize 46 recipients in eleven categories. For a complete list of nominees and winners please see below.

Established in 1998, the Governor’s Commute Smart Awards were developed to recognize extraordinary efforts by commute trip reduction worksites in Washington state. Today, the Commute Trip Reduction Program continues to expand and evolve, engaging more commuters, employers, and communities. This recognition event honors employers who are the foundation of the program, innovative communities who are driving the future of the program, and the ongoing contributions of employee transportation coordinators who help employees make better transportation choices every day that help them save money and benefit their communities and Washington state.

Governor Gregoire signed the Commute Trip Reduction Efficiency Act in 2006 to focus the program on congested highway corridors and increase planning coordination among local, regional and state levels, The Act also provides flexibility to local jurisdictions, including the ability to develop customized trip reduction programs in key employments and residential centers.

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Award Winners

Commute Smart Employee Transportation Coordinator Champion Award, Voluntary Site

Corkey Christensen, LUMEDX, Bellevue
Amber Henderson, Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Toppenish
Leslie Hopkins, Kitsap County Health District, Bremerton

Commute Smart Voluntary Recognition

Employee Transportation Coordinators

Shelly Holland, General Plastics, Tacoma
Amy Jones, Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham
KC McNeil, Romac Industries, Bothell
Selina Shehan, Rings & Things, Spokane

Kerry Tarullo, City of Olympia

Employers

Kitsap County Health District
Metro Parks Tacoma
People for People
Sightline Institute
Western Institutional Review Board

Commute Smart Employee Transportation Coordinator Champion, Affected Sites

Sabrina Combs, City of Bothell
Michelle Cvitkovic, Recreational Equipment Inc., Kent
Charlotte Sampson, Kitsap Transit, Bremerton
Julie Ward, Whatcom Educational Credit Union, Bellingham
Starr Winborne, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
Division of Child Support (DCS), Vancouver
Becky Zahler, Washington State Department of Ecology, Yakima

Commute Smart Employee Transportation Coordinator Leadership

Ed McIntire, Eastern Washington University, Cheney
Al Papas, Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Tumwater
Patti Sutton and Jennifer Reyes, Propel Insurance, Tacoma

Commute Smart Employer Champion, Voluntary Site

The Fernwell Building, Spokane
Tetra Tech EC, Inc., Bothell
Village Books, Bellingham

Commute Smart Employer Champion, Affected Site

The Everett Clinic, Everett
PeaceHealth, Bellingham
City of Spokane—City Hall, Spokane
Washington State Department of Commerce, Olympia
Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center, Yakima

Commute Smart Employer Leadership

City of Puyallup
Clark Public Utilities, Vancouver
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton

Commute Smart State Agency Leadership

Washington State Department of Commerce

Commute Smart Community Award

City of Bellevue - Connect Downtown Program
City of Olympia – Downtown Commuter program
Snohomish County – Curb the Congestion
Spokane County – Travel Green
City of Tacoma – Downtown: On the Go!
City of Vancouver – Destination Downtown
Whatcom Council of Governments – Smart Trips

Commute Smart Commute Trip Reduction Board Champion

Fred Jarrett
Spokane County Commission and Mayor of Spokane

Commute Smart Legacy Award

Microsoft Corporation
City of Redmond

Award Category Descriptions

ETC Champion Award—Voluntary and Affected Sites

This award honors a very important element of commute trip reduction—the Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC). Award winners in this category help employees find their way to a better commute, often in the midst of other job duties and with limited budgets. Their commitment and dedication to using and promoting alternatives to driving alone set an outstanding example for all of us.

Employer Champion Award—Voluntary Sites

This award recognizes the efforts of employers at voluntary worksites that are not required to participate in commute trip reduction programs. These worksites are civic models and demonstrate that employers of all sizes can make a difference and be part of the solution.

ETC Leadership Award

This award honors Employee Transportation Coordinators (ETCs) who demonstrate the highest levels of leadership in commute programs. Their dedication and passion exemplifies the spirit of the program. These individuals set the standard and serve as a model for other ETCs.

Employer Champion Award—Affected Sites

This award recognizes consistent, time-proven leadership in CTR. These employers continue to contribute to solving regional transportation challenges. These organizations demonstrate a commitment to their employees, the quality of life in their communities and the protection of the environment.

Employer Leadership Award

This award honors employers that demonstrate the highest levels of leadership in commute programs. Their comprehensive programs set the standard in their regions and serve as a model for other employers.

State Agency Leadership Award

This award recognizes the Washington state agency that best meets the intent of the CTR law for state agencies to be leaders in the program. The winner of this award is leading the way in CTR and the Governor’s broader goal for sustainability in state government.

Community Award

This award highlights the significant contributions that local governments and their partners make to improve community livability. One of the major goals of the 2006 CTR Efficiency Act was to help jurisdictions achieve their broader transportation and land use objectives. The new law built upon the established employer role and expanded responsibility for program success to the local governments who work with employers. Communities with growth and transportation efficiency centers (GTECs) or GTEC-like programs demonstrate that targeted outreach efforts and focused investments have garnered expanded partnerships and record program performance.

CTR Board Champion Award

The Governor’s Commute Trip Reduction Board is responsible for the CTR program’s policy and funding decisions and reports every two years to the Legislature on the costs and benefits of the program. The Governor’s Commute Smart CTR Board Champion award honors those individuals that are champions of CTR success. The CTR Board chose the winners of this award for their vision, dedication and effective leadership in supporting efficient transportation programs and policies.

Legacy Award

The Governor’s Commute Smart Legacy Award honors exemplary local partnerships that go above and beyond the CTR law to transform transportation in their communities and region. The winners of this award demonstrate the effectiveness of a lasting and committed partnership and the power of aligning employer and government goals for growth and transportation.

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