Success stories

Delta Airlines had a 96% response rate to their survey—the highest response of any employer in the south King County region. The Delta site, located in the terminal at Sea-Tac Airport, offers unique challenges, both in terms of surveying and commute trip reduction.

Delta’s Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC), Pamela Helm, is mindful of the working environment of employees and offered a variety of method—plus an incentive—to produce a high rate of survey response. Pam set up a satellite office in the baggage handling area of the terminal so handlers who have strict uniform requirements don’t have the additional obstacle of entering the terminal to complete their survey or pick up their company-provided ORCA cards.

Delta set a non-drive alone trip (NDAT) rate goal of 34.9% and exceeded it by 90%. Pam credits the effort to employee education and a combination of incentives that include a subsidized ORCA card as well as a pay-to-not-park credit.

Highline College also experienced success with their Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program. Situated on the very busy thoroughfare of Pacific Highway South, Highline is creatively encouraging good transportation habits while advocating for safety and eagerly anticipating the expansion of the light rail system.

Highline met goals for both NDAT and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per employee—and they had an 83% response rate to their survey. Highline’s ETC, Francesca Fender, incentivized participation by offering gift cards to a local restaurant. She also made a very focused outreach to her tech support team, who take advantage of Highline’s Work Smart program. That program includes teleworking plus an option to work a compressed work week.

Francesca doesn’t just include Highline’s staff, she also includes Highline students in her CTR efforts. Every student who provides proof of a minimum of $60 in ORCA card usage in any month earns a $60 gift certificate at the campus bookstore.

Like other community colleges in south King County, Green River Community College (GRCC) is experiencing—and managing—phenomenal growth. ETC Judy Brenden – a 15-year veteran—is a master of all things CTR. GRCC offers a carpool incentive for all staff: any staff who carpools at least three times per week earns a free staff parking permit for the quarter. Judy also coordinates a fleet of shuttles that run from Pacific Raceway to the campus which are heavily utilized by both students and faculty. In fact, mobility and safety are both vitally important to student success at GRCC. Students can fully utilize the college’s shuttles on weeknights until 2:00a.m. and on the weekends to major shopping destinations, local eateries, and student housing—all free of charge. Judy is a firm believer that not having a car should not be a barrier to access services. Students also have the option of renting the shuttles (for a nominal fee) for school extracurricular activities.

Service improvements are coming to Auburn and GRCC through the Renton-Kent-Auburn Area Mobility Project (RKAAMP) and Judy is looking forward to helping both staff and students take advantage of the increased service options.

International Paper sits on a lovely, tree-filled campus alongside Weyerhaeuser Paper in Federal Way. International Paper has had one of the longest-running Vanpools for any business: 28 years. Their secret? Be flexible with your fellow commuters, keep to a reliable schedule, stay in communication with each other early and often, and have fun! The vanpool members try to make it a habit to get together once a month for some off-the-clock bonding time. It also helps that the vanpoolers are scientists who are keenly aware of the damaging effects of air pollution and greenhouse gases; in fact, being environmental stewards is written into International Paper’s mission and vision.

True to that mission, International Paper met their goals for both NDAT and VMT—and had an 87% response rate to their survey. They’re not simply good environmental stewards, they’re also good neighbors, reaching out to other businesses in their proximity to generate interest and ridership.