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College’s concerted effort yields results and building space
Green River Community College (GRCC) has been committed to maintaining the ecological integrity of the campus so that students, staff and visitors alike have a safe, peaceful and beautiful campus to enjoy. The college has worked hard to develop a variety of incentives to encourage employees to leave their cars at home to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment. For its efforts, GRCC has been awarded a 2004 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for Organizational Leadership.

ETC Fred Creek has assembled a 10-member CTR Committee for the college, consisting of representatives from different departments around campus. The committee both monitors GRCC’s program and assists in promoting commute alternatives to employees. The committee has proven to be very effective at bringing the goals and vision of the campus’ CTR program to fruition.

An additional benefit of this committee is the varied skill set each member brings to the table. One committee member happens to be a grant writer, which has come in very handy over the last couple of years as the college applied for and was awarded two grants to help expand the campus CTR program.

The first, an Employer Services Grant, funded a CTR Increase Project that allowed for the expansion of CTR subsidies to include the Sounder train, vanshare and vanpools. A promotional and educational campaign accompanied this expansion to increase employee awareness of the commute options available to them.

A second grant, received through the Washington State Performance Grant program, provided funding to build upon the success of the CTR Increase Project by providing additional subsidies, incentives for teleworkers, and installing new bike lockers. Though not complete, it is anticipated that the project will reduce 6,648 vehicle miles traveled each day to the campus.

The program expansion made possible through the grant projects has been vital to this growing community college. New international student housing is being constructed on what was previously 300 SOV parking spaces. Creek worked with the nearby Pacific Raceways on an arrangement that allows employees and students who must drive alone to park off-site at the Pacific Raceways’ facilities and ride a shuttle to campus. This has helped reduce congestion on and around campus as well as eliminated overflow parking into the surrounding neighborhoods.

In addition to the off-site parking and shuttle service, employees at the college have a variety of options when it comes to leaving their cars at home. Those who ride the bus or the Sounder train, as well as those who join a vanpool or vanshare receive a subsidy to cover 100% of the fares. Carpoolers are eligible for a $20 refund per quarter and reserved HOV parking spaces. Each of these elements add up to a well-rounded program that meets the needs of campus employees while all but eliminating the need to build more campus parking.
"Our campus community has really stepped forward to embrace our efforts and have taken the time to try different options," says Creek. "Some have been surprised by the ease and convenience of alternative commuting methods. They’re our greatest ambassadors!"

Commute Program
Transit, Sounder train, vanpool and vanshare subsidy
Carpool incentives
Shuttle service
Guaranteed Ride Home
Reserved priority HOV parking
Showers and lockers
Telework, flextime and compressed workweeks

*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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