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Category:
Diamond Award BERGER/ABAM Engineers Inc., Federal Way
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Listen to one of the ads featuring this winner! (Produced and broadcast by KUOW.) |
Firm saves $1,500
per month by subsidizing commute options instead of parking fees
BERGER/ABAM Engineers provides consulting services throughout the world
in the areas of civil and structural engineering, planning, project management,
and construction support services. The firm's mission, "To fulfill
the needs of its clients, employees, and shareholders through quality
service, innovation, and leadership," often brings recognition by
the public, clients, and the design industry. BERGER/ABAM’s dedication
to providing an outstanding CTR program for its employees has earned it
a 2003 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for Organizational Leadership.
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March 16, 2004 Awards
Ceremony
Accepting a 2003 Diamond Award for BERGER/ABAM Engineers Inc. are Ann Kennedy, Sherry Gibbs and Bob Wallace. |
Transit riders, carpoolers, vanpoolers, bicyclists and walkers at BERGER/ABAM receive between $10 and $45 in Commuter Bonus Plus vouchers each month, depending on frequency of use. All first-time HOV commuters receive a $10 gift card the first month they leave their car at home. Employees also have the option of working 9/80 compressed workweeks to reduce the number of days they commute. Guaranteed ride home provides an added incentive to encourage employees to use alternative commute modes.
BERGER/ABAM employees at the Federal Way site also have access to an on-site "Commuter Car" during the day. In 2001, the company applied for and received an Employer Services Grant to cover some of the cost of purchasing a hybrid car for commuter use. This car is available to employees who commute via non-SOV modes for business or personal use during the workday.
ETC and Program Manager Sherry Gibbs promotes the program through regular emails, staff memos, a transportation bulletin board and articles in the company newsletter. The CTR program also is listed in new employee packets and recruiting packets as part of the benefits program. When someone expresses interest in participating in a carpool or vanpool, Gibbs works with them to find ridesharing partners. "Our company is very family-like, and I do a lot of promoting by word of mouth too," Gibbs said. "I use my research on pollution statistics for both SOV and HOV modes to present to the employees too, because engineers love numbers!"
Gibbs is constantly using her creativity and imagination to develop new ideas to improve the CTR program at BERGER/ABAM. She has developed the stepped voucher program, tying the dollar amount of the incentives to the frequency of non-SOV mode use. And it was her creativity that ultimately brought about the Commuter Car grant. "Our executive vice president was a little skeptical when I approached him with the idea, but he was pleasantly surprised when the grant was awarded!" said Gibbs.
Whenever she has a new idea, Gibbs takes it to her manager who is always very supportive. Together they approach upper management with program changes and new elements, emphasizing how the enhancements will benefit the company. By doing so, they have been able to show how the CTR program increases the company’s ability to attract and retain high quality candidates, sends a strong message to the community that BERGER/ABAM is a good corporate citizen dedicated to addressing pollution and traffic problems, and shows potential clients that they don’t just talk about "green" solutions, but they walk the talk.
The company has also seen the quantifiable impact of the CTR program on its bottom line. BERGER/ABAM’s Seattle and Portland offices have seen dramatic savings of approximately $1,500 per month by discontinuing paid employee parking and instead providing employer-paid alternatives for commuting such as transit subsidies and Flexcar memberships.
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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. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.