2002
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Category: Ridesharing Overlake Christian
Church,
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Listen to one of the radio spots featuring this winner! |
Church offers employees time off
for carpooling
Overlake
Christian Church in Redmond has grown to be one of the largest church
congregations in the Pacific Northwest not to mention one of many large
churches in the country. As a voluntary CTR-affected worksite for a little
over two years, Overlake has reduced its employee drive alone rate from
84% to 66% in that time. These outstanding results have earned Overlake
Christian Church a 2002 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for ridesharing.
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Jan. 22, 2003 Awards Ceremony
Accepting Overlake Christian Church's Diamond Award for Ridesharing are Human Resources Director Nancy Thorgeson and Senior Pastor Rick Kingham. |
Overlake Christian Church chose to voluntarily comply with the state’s Commute Trip Reduction Law because of its commitment to be a role model within the community as well as a good example to other employers. Because of the limited transit service and plentiful free parking at the church, the focus was placed on carpooling as a way to move employees away from driving alone. An aggressive marketing campaign combined with demonstrated organizational commitment and an unusual incentive program have helped Overlake significantly reduce its employee drive alone rate.
Employees who use commute alternatives are rewarded by earning up to sixteen hours of paid time off per year based on the number of times they commute via an alternative mode. For those employees commuting via transit, vanpool or ferry, the church provides a $20 monthly subsidy and priority HOV parking in addition to the opportunity to accrue paid leave. Overlake Christian Church also participates in all commute alternative promotions sponsored by local, regional and state agencies.
As part of their internal marketing campaign, presentations are made to new and existing employees throughout the year to keep them apprised of all alternative commute options. Regularly held chapel meetings and birthday lunches also provide additional opportunities to promote ridesharing issues with employees. Some events are even geared toward helping employees find ridesharing partners. A segment of Overlake’s intranet site is also dedicated to information on commute alternatives.
Presentations are made to management throughout the year to keep them up to date on Overlake’s program as well as other local and regional commute trip reduction efforts. “The church’s leadership shows its commitment by supporting and allowing us to freely run the program,” said Employee Transportation Coordinator Barb Graef, “and by giving paid time off to our employees who carpool on a regular basis.”
Commute Program
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*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.