2002
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Category:
Diamond Ring–for organizational leadership SAFECO,
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Listen to one of the radio spots featuring this winner! |
Civic leader continues to model new
commute reduction strategies
SAFECO,
a Fortune 500 diversified financial services company, has supported employee
transportation programs for close to thirty years. SAFECO recognizes its
important role as a civic leader in mitigating traffic problems and continues
to be at the forefront of designing and modeling innovative commute trip
reduction strategies. This dedication has garnered the organization a
variety of prestigious awards for its program including: Commuter Choice
Leadership Champion, one of five national recipients named by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency; Governor’s Commute Smart
Award for three consecutive years; and recognition from the City of Seattle
and former Mayor Paul Schell for innovative use of technology on its web
based Commute Trip Reduction survey.
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Jan. 22, 2003 Awards Ceremony
Accepting SAFECO's Diamond Ring for Organizational Leadership are CTR Program Manager Jeff Aumell and Employee Transportation Coordinator Brady Clark. |
SAFECO will add to this impressive list a 2002 Commuter Challenge Diamond Ring Award for Organizational Leadership. This will be SAFECO’s fourth Diamond Ring win in as many years.
SAFECO offers its employees a FlexPass that gives them unlimited rides on Metro, Community Transit, Sound Transit and Pierce Transit. In 2002, SAFECO implemented a new Vanpool Rewards Program, which attracted 100 new vanpoolers and removed more than 22,000 commute trips a year from the roads. The vanpoolers received up to $100 to pay for their vanpool fare for three consecutive months. Any vanpooler recruiting a new rider also received $100.
Free parking is provided as an incentive to SAFECO employees who carpool at facilities in Seattle where single occupant vehicles (SOV) pay a monthly fee. At other suburban sites where parking is free, carpools get reserved and priority parking. And for those employees who walk or bicycle to work, SAFECO provides secure bike racks, showers and locker facilities.
“SAFECO is always striving for excellence with its commute trip reduction program and makes every effort to be a good corporate neighbor,” said Program Manager Jeff Aumell. “By promoting alternatives to driving alone to its employees, SAFECO is able to achieve its goal in reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, petroleum consumption, and meet statewide goals and regulations.”
SAFECO’s commute program has also helped the company save money in the long run. Because more than 50% of SAFECO’s employees use an alternative to driving alone, it has reduced the need for leased parking in the University District, reduced the need for expensive downtown parking, and has helped to recruit and retain good employees.
In addition to being a leader in providing a comprehensive transportation program for their employees, SAFECO is a leader in helping to solve regional transportation problems. SAFECO works to shape local and statewide transportation through its involvement with several local and statewide committees and policy planning efforts. Management also supports Jeff Aumell, Transportation Analyst and CTR Program Manager for SAFECO on his work with outside transportation groups such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative, the Washington State Rideshare Organization, the Greater Redmond Transportation Management Association and the Regional Vanpool Coordination Team.
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.