Commute Seattle Honors UW, Fred Hutch and Others For Innovative Commuter Programs

Seattle Childrens Hospital offers employees transit, vanpool, carpool and bike subsidies. Employees at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have access to free shuttles and receive a $4.50 per day commute bonus for not driving to work alone.

Those two organizations, along with the University of Washington, The Polyclinic, Washington State Ferries and Swedish Medical Center all received top Platinum Level honors from Commute Seattle for their innovative commuter programs.

There are so many different travel choices and ways to give employees flexibility to reduce the impact of drive-alone traffic and keep our transportation system running smoothly for everyone, said Sam Zimbabwe, the citys director of transportation.

The six Platinum Level honorees all have programs to reduce single-occupancy vehicle commuting. The UW has reconfigured parking lots to link to public transit options. Swedish Medical Center offers subsidized ZipCar memberships. Washington State Ferries give workers cash incentives for commuting by foot, bike or carpool. The Polyclinic offers telework and flexible work schedules.

All told, the fifth annual Commute Trip Reduction Champions celebration recognized 89 employers for their efforts to reduce traffic congestion. Seattles Commute Trip Reduction program is a public-private partnership connecting large employers to resources and tools to ease traffic congestion.

Commute Seattle, a public-private partnership funded by the Downtown Seattle Association and the Downtown Transportation Alliance, has for a decade encouraged alternative forms of commuting, including bicycling. Among other things, the organization works with companies and downtown property managers to install bicycle amenities such as showers, lockers and bike parking.