Federal Detention Center Commute Profile

Multiple work shifts make carpooling and vanpooling key to trip reduction
One of the largest employers in the City of SeaTac, the Federal Detention Center, has more than 250 employees commuting to the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Despite these challenges, the Federal Detention Center has one of the most successful carpool and vanpool programs in the south Puget Sound area. The organization's excellent work has earned it a Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for ridesharing for a third year.

Jan. 30, 2002 Awards Ceremony

Accepting the Federal Detention Center's Diamond Award are Associate Warden Brad Denend and Employee Transportation Coordinator Donna Quinn.

Staff members at the Federal Detention Center work one of four different shifts. On top of that, some employees work five days a week, eight hours a day. Others work four 10-hour days. Because the facility is staffed seven days a week, not all employees work the same days of the week.

“Adjusting for everyone's schedules makes finding carpool and vanpool partners an extra challenge,” said Employee Transportation Coordinator Donna Quinn. “But, with lots of individual assistance and help from the vanpool and carpool drivers, we make things work.”

The Federal Detention Center currently has 169 carpoolers and six vanpools with 36 full-time riders and 15 part-time riders. The carpools and vanpools are from the various work shifts.

The Center subsidizes 100 percent of the cost of all Metro vanpools with five or more riders. It also makes a bus pass available to all employees. There are 25 carpool parking spaces and five vanpool parking spaces reserved closest to the front door. Employees who rideshare also have Guaranteed Ride Home in case they need to leave work or work overtime unexpectedly.

All new employees at the Federal Detention Center attend a class to learn about the transportation benefits provided and the opportunities to join existing carpools and vanpools. This early contact results in many staff members ridesharing within days of joining the organization.

“Our Commute Trip Reduction program is an important way for us to help our employees and our community,” said Warden W. J. Jusino. “Because it is important to us as an institution, it has become important to our staff. It is part of our work culture.”

*Some definitions: An “ETC” is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program; “PM” is the transportation program manager; and “CEO” refers to the top management-level person at the worksite. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.