Seattle Chamber Commute Profile

Voluntary program gets good results
With fewer than 100 employees, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce is not affected by the state's Commute Trip Reduction Law. However, this non-profit membership organization's successful voluntary employee transportation program has earned it the 1999 Special Recognition Diamond Award for a non-affected organization.

The Chamber works year-round in diverse ways to strengthen the region's prosperity and livability. With Seattle on the list as one of the most congested areas in the country, alleviating traffic congestion and improving air quality are important parts of the Chamber's overall mission to promote economic vitality and quality of life in the Puget Sound region. Bob Watt, president and CEO of the Chamber, says “Helping to solve this region's transportation woes is one of our top priorities.”

Chamber sets example for its members
The Chamber serves as a coalition-builder among businesses, citizens, public officials and volunteers who care about their community. Recognizing that the promotion of public transportation is vital to a thriving region and a healthy environment, Chamber management decided more than 15 years ago to subsidize 50% of every employee's transit pass. This monthly subsidy covers employee commutes using Metro, Pierce Transit, Community Transit and the ferry system. Four company cars are available to management and to all employees for work-related trips. Covered bicycle racks and showers are provided and, in cases of illness or emergency, the Chamber offers a free ride home to any staff member who commutes via an alternative mode.

Representing Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce (From left to right): Evelyn Lemoine, Jan Underwood.

Jan Underwood, employee transportation coordinator, is active in the Unico Properties Network. This group meets bi-monthly and includes CTR affected and non-affected employers located in Unico owned buildings in downtown Seattle. “The networking group is a great source of information for me,” says Underwood.

The Chamber recognizes the region faces the likelihood of losing federal transportation funds if Seattle falls into non-attainment status by failing to meet federal clean air standards, and knows reducing the number of vehicles on the road is the best way to avoid that status. Therefore, in addition to encouraging its employees to try transit and other alternatives to driving alone, the Chamber also encourages its 2,800 business members to promote commute trip reduction programs within their own companies through articles in the Chamber's monthly newsletter. The Chamber also is planning to feature CTR ideas on its Web site in the year 2000.

“Our employees commute from all over King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties to work in downtown Seattle,” says Watt. “Without their cooperation in taking transit to work, we would be adding significantly to traffic congestion.”

*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.