Commuter Challenge, in partnership with federal, state and local governments, has awarded King and Snohomish County employers over $717,000 in grant funds to implement or enhance commute trip reduction projects in an effort to reduce thousands of commute trips each month. Local employers eligible for the grants are those affected by the state Commute Trip Reduction Law and other work sites that voluntarily comply with the law.
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Employer:
Group Health Cooperative
VanShare has proven to be a viable option for Group Health’s Tukwila work site. Because of its remote location, it is not easily accessible by public transportation. |
Company
mission:
Formed in 1947, Group Health Cooperative is the nation’s largest
consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system, providing coverage and
care for one in ten Washingtonians. Group Health provides comprehensive
health care through two hospitals and 30 primary care or family medical
centers, and five specialty medical units.
Business
issues:
Group Health’s Tukwila site is located in a remote area of the city
that has limited bus service. Group Health had provided a shuttle from
the Tukwila campus to the Tukwila Sounder Station and the Tukwila Park
and Ride through an outside vendor for two years, but found problems with
overcrowding and unreliable service. The shuttle service also proved to
be a significant expense for Group Health. Replacing the shuttle with
Metro VanShare was determined to be a more cost effective solution. In
addition, Group Health determined that subsidizing the VanShare service
would help the Tukwila site improve participation in its trip reduction
program by providing employees with the control and flexibility they want
in their commute.
Project description:
Group Health decided it would use the grant funds to subsidize up to 17
Metro VanShare vans to replace the shuttle service. The VanShare vans
operate on the same routes, between Group Health’s Tukwila campus
and the Sounder Station and Park and Ride. Subsidizing VanShare allows
Group Health to continue providing transportation for those employees
already using the shuttle service while also allowing for future growth
in the program. A variety of marketing activities also were undertaken,
promoting the VanShare Program and its benefits to employees.
Benefits:
Group Health has seen significant cost savings of approximately $11,000
per month by using VanShare instead of the outside shuttle service. The
money saved by this transition will allow Group Health to further expand
and improve other aspects of its CTR program. Between April 1 and September
30 of this year, 11,032 SOV trips were reduced at Group Health’s
Tukwila facility with eleven VanShare vehicles. The employer’s Intranet
site as well as employee word of mouth, have been very effective means
of promoting and providing information on the program. In addition, a
Transportation Fair was held at the Administrative and Operations Center
campus to provide employees with information about their commute options.
FlexPass sales also have increased as more employees utilize Sounder,
due to the availability of the VanShare connections.