Category: Diamond Award for Organizational Leadership Capital One, Federal Way John Carnahan, Site Director Susan Richter, Project Manager Megan Duty, Employee Transportation Coordinator

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Federal Way employer meets CTR goal against the odds

Capital One is a Fortune 500 company specializing in consumer lending and auto loan products. The company's local office, located in Federal Way, is one of only two Production Services operations in the United States. This location has often proven difficult for promoting transit use among employees. Perseverance, subsidies for other, more accessible HOV modes, and strong management support have helped Capital One meet its State-mandated CTR goals for two consecutive survey years. This commitment has earned Capital One a 2003 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for Organizational Leadership.

Megan Duty, Capital One’s ETC, has worked hard to develop a CTR program that meets the needs of her co-workers and benefits both the employees and the company. Employees who ride the bus receive $45 per month in Commuter Bonus Plus Vouchers. Those in a carpool can earn between $5 and $30 per month in vouchers, depending on how frequently they share the ride. Bicyclists and walkers also receive incentives and have access to showers, lockers and covered bicycle parking. Guaranteed ride home service is provided to all employees who utilize an alternative commute mode. Duty has even designed an electronic usage tracking form that is easy for employees to use, for her to administer, and for management to evaluate.

CTR information is posted in kiosks in the break rooms and on the "Commute One" Intranet site. A Commute One brochure also was developed to inform employees of the various alternative commute modes available to them. Capital One recently ran a promotion that encouraged all company associates to register on the Commute One web site, offering free movie tickets just for signing up. Duty hopes that by getting all associates to register, not just those who currently participate in the CTR program, employees will see who else in the company lives near them, which in turn will increase the possibilities for forming new carpools.

Management has been behind the CTR program at Capital One from the very beginning, allocating financial support to maintain and grow the program. They also see the benefits the program provides, not just to the employees, but also to the company. "Our program has definitely helped us recruit and retain employees," said ETC Megan Duty. "Our associates love the program and love the benefits that go along with it. They look forward to the promotions throughout the year as well."

Capital One has been affected by the CTR Law since 1999 and in 2002, the company met their CTR goal for the second survey year in a row. "It is difficult enough for worksites in the South County area to make progress let alone goal, and the reason Capital One made goal is the success of its carpool program," said King County Employer Transportation Representative Jane Finch. "They really deserve recognition for their outstanding efforts."

*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. 

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