|
|
Metro's Vanpool program getting more popular
all the time
 Watch
this video clip (Real Media) Length: (4:35)
Watch this video clip (Windows Media) Length:
(4:35)
Narrator Says:
It’s the best way to skip everything we hate about commuting; whether
it’s the heavy traffic, rising gas prices, or the wear and tear on your
car.
Next year, King County Metro’s Vanpool program will have been in
operation for 28 years and the program is more popular than ever.
In an area of the county that prides itself on environmental
consciousness, the Vanpool program fits right in removing roughly 5,000
cars from the road daily and thus 16,000 tons of greenhouse gas from the
air annually.
King County Ridematch Coordinator Cathy Blumenthal Says:
King County Metro has the largest public vanpool program in the United
States. We are close to 900 vans at this point, and we also have another
program called vanshare with about 170 vanshares in operation.
Narrator Says:
You can find Metro Vanpools at hundreds of job sites countywide, and
that’s because of the many benefits they offer.
They reduce the demand for parking as they carry anywhere from five to
15 employees per van.
They offer the reliability of getting to work more quickly because they
can travel in the HOV Lane.
They offer flexibility because employees can choose their own schedule
and route.
Metro also offers a guaranteed ride home in case of an unexpected
emergency.
King County Ridematch Coordinator Cathy Blumenthal Says:
We work with the employers in King County, with commute trip reduction
services, which helps us get in the door with our Vanpool and Rideshare
message. And then we work with the employer to set up events and get out
there and talk to employees.
Narrator Says:
One of the large iconic local companies that has dozens of Metro
Vanpools is Costco.
Kacey Allred is the employee transportation coordinator for the
corporate headquarters in Issaquah, and she says the employees that ride
in vanpools are happy.
Costco ETC Kacey Allred Says:
They love it, they get to sleep on the way into work, on the way home,
relax. Costco started our vanpool program in 1994, starting off with 18
vanpools, and we currently have 66 vans with 622 employees
participating. Costco subsidizes our employees $60 a month to join the
Vanpools.
Narrator Says:
On top of keeping its employees happy, participating in Vanpool saves
the company about $200,000 in tax incentives every year.
The popularity of the program seems to be spiking along with gas prices.
From April 2007 to April 2008, the number of vans on the road is up 11
percent, and
rideshareonline.com applications filled out on the web are up almost
20 percent.
Aside from big companies like Costco, smaller companies also take part,
companies like k2, which is located in the SODO district.
K2 is in the second year of its participation in Metro’s Vanpool
program, and Sindy Rice says the service works just as well for smaller
companies with different needs.
K2 Sports ETC Sindy Rice Says:
It's been going very well, k2 did business on Vashon for 40 years. So
when we moved to Seattle, our employees were really spread out, they
were living in Kitsap County, Pierce County, Seattle, Vashon Island, and
so the commute was difficult and so K2 was really supportive in that
issue and wanted to make sure everybody stayed.
And so they decide to purchase the King County Metro area flex passes
and those do contribute to the monthly maintenance of the vans. And so
with ferry waits and traffic on I-5 it was really the only way to go for
many people. When new employees come to k2, and we tell them that they
have these flex passes and they can ride Metro free, their eyes just
light up, so it's a good thing.
Narrator Says:
About 60 of the more than 200 employees at K2 vanpool, roughly a quarter
of them.
And though the companies that participate vary greatly, the reason they
all do seems to be the same, the high price of fuel.
K2 Sports ETC Sindy Rice Says:
That's a huge impact. And I don't think any of us were thinking that
when we started Vanpooling. But it certainly is now and I hardly ever
drive my car at home now.
King County Ridematch Coordinator Cathy Blumenthal Says:
Well since the recent spike in gas prices, when it hit $4 a gallon,
we've been having tremendous business. We have about 54 vans and
formations right now, that's over about 10 to 15 which is the typical
formations month. We do have 54 in formations, and we do fortunately
have plenty of vans available to customers, and people should consider
Vanpooling as an option if transit isn't available to them.
Costco ETC Kacey Allred Says:
We get about 5 new Vanpools per year, and plus with gas prices topping
out at $4, people are very interested in global warming, and that helps
out a lot.
Narrator Says:
For information on setting up your own vanpool or vanshare, just visit
rideshareonline.com or
call 206-625-4500.
Return to Dot Flix home page
|
