Category: Transit

Nintendo of America Inc.,Redmond

• CEO*: Howard Lincoln, Chairman
• PM: Linda Robinson, Human Resources Manager
• ETC: Karen Harper, Senior Payroll Specialist

Transit seen as answer for Eastside work site

This Redmond based employer is the U.S. distribution and shipping center for the Japanese-based company. Product support for the entire country and many parts of the world also is housed here. Parking is free, but limited. That, combined with the growing congestion on the eastside of Lake Washington, prompted Nintendo to develop a strong program to help meet their employees' desire to utilize transit and ridesharing.

Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives (r.) congratulates Nintendo's Director of Human Resources Bev Mitchell on the company's Diamond Award.

Nintendo was the first company to enter into a FlexPass agreement between King County Metro and Community Transit of Snohomish County. A FlexPass is offered to all employees at no cost. The FlexPass was introduced in mid-1998 and by the end of the year, over 150 employees were using it.

Nintendo's commute trip reduction program is part of the new employee orientation process where the FlexPass benefit, as well as other incentives including internal ridematch assistance to help form vanpools and carpools, is explained. Karen Harper, the Employee Transportation Coordinator, is introduced to each new employee and provides each with individualized commuting assistance. In addition to providing vanpools and carpools priority parking, Nintendo subsidizes vanpools up to $63 per month.

Amenities encourage employees to leave their cars at home

Nintendo offers flextime, which allows employees the flexibility to use transit and rideshare. Several on-site amenities are available, including film developing drop off, dry cleaning pick up and delivery, a cash machine, cafeteria, showers, lockers, and membership to the Pro Club, which is located across the street. The convenience of these amenities helps encourage employees to leave their cars at home, knowing they will have convenient access for personal errands.

*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.