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Dedicated ETC helps airline and staff save money
Northwest Airlines is the world’s fourth largest airline and employs more than 600 people at its SeaTac Airport worksites. For four years, ETC Pamela Helm has personified Northwest’s continued commitment to commute trip reduction and its employees. For her dedication, Helm has been awarded a 2004 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award for ETC Leadership.

According to Desmond Machuca, City of SeaTac Public Works Programs Coordinator, one of the great things about Pamela is that she provides vital one-on-one assistance to all Northwest Airlines employees. "She really goes out of her way to address all their question and concerns, and makes each one of them feel safe and secure about trying a new commute mode," Machuca says.
That one-on-one assistance starts the day each employee joins the Northwest Airlines team. Each new employee receives Northwest’s commute trip option brochure featuring the FlexPass program in their orientation packets along with Helm’s contact information should they have questions or need help in finding the right commute option for their shift and/or lifestyle needs. Helm makes sure employees are regularly reminded of their alternative commute options by maintaining CTR boards in each break room with information on the various options, URL addresses for RideshareOnline and local transit agencies, as well as the latest special promotions and bus schedules.

Northwest employees have a variety of options when it comes time to decide how they’ll commute to work. The company provides free or reduced cost FlexPasses for employees who ride King County Metro, Sound Transit or Pierce Transit buses and the Sounder train, free or reduced cost Metro Vanpool fares, Guaranteed Ride Home and Commuter Bonus Plus Vouchers for employees regardless of the alternative mode they choose.

Helm says Northwest Airlines management has always been very supportive of the CTR program. Although the airline industry as a whole has suffered significantly in the past four years, Northwest has continued purchasing FlexPasses for its employees and even issues free airline passes as rewards for employees who participate in the program. Some of this support no doubt comes from the fact that the airline sees a benefit to its bottom line by providing employees with FlexPasses. For each employee who utilizes an alternative commute mode and gives up their parking space, Northwest Airlines saves $46 per month in parking costs. With 56% of employees riding transit, that’s a significant chunk of change.

"Our CTR program is successful because it meets the needs of both Northwest Airlines and the employees," Helm says. "The airline is able to offer employees an additional benefit and realize a financial savings by doing so. Employees also save money and arrive at work more relaxed because they don’t have to deal with traffic hassles."

Helm’s efforts extend well beyond the employees of Northwest Airlines. She has worked with local transit agencies as well as city and county council members to improve transit service to the airport. "Because it is a 24/7 employment center and public place, the airport community is not typical," Machuca says. "Pamela has diligently advocated for earlier bus trips and increased transit access to help airline employees and travelers move more efficiently through SeaTac and the region."

Commute Program
Transit, Sounder Train and vanpool subsidy
Guaranteed Ride Home
HOV incentives
Reserved priority HOV parking
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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