Category: Ridesharing

Federal Detention Center SeaTac, SeaTac

• CEO*: Bill Perrill, Warden
• ETC: Charles Ingram, Executive Assistant

Warden lays down the law on commuting

The Federal Detention Center, which holds and processes those arrested for federal crimes, has ample free parking and limited bus service. With 264 total staff covering three shifts, but only 91 CTR-affected employees, the Center does not have to adhere to the CTR law. However, in 1998 Warden Bill Perrill made it very clear that affected or not, the Center was going to do everything possible to reduce commute trips to the site.

Executive Assistant Charles Ingram and Warden Bill Perrill of the Pederal Detention Center pose with their Diamond Award.

A memo to all staff stated in part: “The Federal Detention Center SeaTac will comply with the spirit and the letter of the Commute Trip Reduction Act. We recognize that vehicle emissions, as the number one source of air pollution in the Puget Sound area, are a major health and quality of life problem. As a Federal Agency, it is incumbent upon us to set the example in commute trip law compliance for the private sector to emulate. As good neighbors and community members, we will actively strive to lessen our impact on the environment and the communities in which we reside.”

Through the hard work of Charles Ingram, Employee Transportation Coordinator, and the support of management, great progress has been made.

An internal ridematch system was established to help with the formation of vanpools and carpools. Twenty-five parking spaces in front of the institution are designated “carpool parking only.” In less than a month after the warden's memo, Ingram was able to overcome many Federal regulations in order to acquire permission and funding to enter into a FlexPass agreement with Metro. As a result, all staff receive a FlexPass, which fully subsidizes transit and vanpools. Bicycle racks, showers and lockers are available to encourage staff to bicycle to work.

Incentives help make program a success

As added incentive, the Cash Awards program was put into place. Two-person carpools receive $35 per person per quarter, three person carpools receive $55 per person per quarter, and carpools with four or more riders receive $70 per person per quarter. Vanpool drivers receive $120 per quarter, the bookkeeper and back up driver each receive $49 ($98 if one person does both jobs), and passengers receive $17 per quarter. Walkers, bicyclists, and bus riders each receive $120 per quarter.

Ingram looks forward to the day when Sound Transit's light rail is completed, since a station will be very convenient to the site. He is confident that will encourage even more staff to leave their cars at home.

*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.