KPFF Commute Profile

Strong parking policy results in outstanding bus ridership
KPFF Consulting Engineers has earned a Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for its parking management policy. The Diamond Award for parking management recognizes KPFF's strategic management of the location, cost, availability, and demand for parking that helps solve many parking related challenges.

Jan. 30, 2002 Awards Ceremony

Accepting KPFF's Diamond Award for parking management are Evelyn Root, Employee Transportation Coordinator; and Jaime Saez, Associate.

Due to the scarcity and cost of parking in downtown Seattle, KPFF does not pay for employee parking. To address employee-commuting issues, KPFF offers the FlexPass Bus Subsidy program. “This program takes full advantage of the excellent bus service in the transit tunnel and surface streets located near the Seattle office, which is also located within walking distance of the ferry terminal,” notes Evelyn Root, KPFF's employee transportation coordinator.

Seventy-six percent of KPFF's 170 employees participate in the FlexPass program. At a monthly cost of $15.38 for both the company and employee, the FlexPass costs much less than the cost of commuting. The cost of parking in the building ranges from $14 to $27 per day, or $270 a month. Employees can use the FlexPass on Metro Transit, Sound Transit, and the Sounder commuter train.

“The FlexPass just makes sense all the way around,” says Ralph Iboshi, vice president and manager of KPFF's Washington division. “It makes financial sense for the employees and the company. It makes for a less stressful commute for our employees and helps address the problems of traffic congestion and pollution in our city.”

As a civil and structural engineering firm, KPFF's employees often are required to be at meetings off-site or at site visits. KPFF provides five company-owned vehicles for work-related trips. If all the fleet cars are in use, KPFF uses rental cars or taxis for work-related trips. KPFF also offers Home Free Guarantee for employees when they need to leave work for personal emergencies or have to work late unexpectedly. Participation in the program also provides FlexCar membership for employees at a reduced cost. FlexCar gives members access to a car for their personal use during and after business hours.

In addition to the Commuter Challenge Diamond award, KPFF's commuter program has been recognized with a Certificate of Recognition in 2001 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation. KPFF's partnership with The Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative was recognized for meeting the national standard of excellence for employer-provided commuter benefits.

*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.