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Company description: Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center is a pediatric teaching hospital serving Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Children's has approximately 4,000 employees located at the main campus in Laurelhurst (NE Seattle) and at additional offices in Downtown Seattle, Bothell, Bellevue, and other locations.
Why the company focused on reducing drive alone trips: Faced with the decision of investing money in parking stalls or expanding existing medical facilities, Children's decided to institutionalize alternative commuting. This commitment to alternative commuting, such as biking, walking, busing, carpooling and vanpooling has helped make Children's a leader in developing employer-driven solutions to the transportation challenges facing the Puget Sound Region. Children’s is also planning to add a bike sharing program and a shuttle system that connects to transit hubs.
Strategies Used -
On each employee’s first day of work, they receive a personalized commute report and a 30-minute orientation to alternate transportation options that could work for their commute.
There are many ways in which we reach out to staff. Children’s has a weekly electronic newsletter called InHouse where we frequently post announcements. We also post transportation information, current events, and external resources on our intranet site. In addition, we have television flat screens at the hospital in high traffic areas so staff can see information about upcoming transportation events or promotions.
Children’s Transportation team hosts events for staff members that feature topics such as Winter Bike Commuting, How to Ride the Bus, and Bike Safety. We also recognize our current alternative commuters by celebrating at mode-specific events, such as carpool or vanpool parties. At these events we have an opportunity to make face-to-face contact with staff which helps us to understand their obstacles and answer their questions.
In December 2007, we launched the “Star Commuter” program to recognize staff members for their commitment and creativity in taking alternative transportation. Stars are nominated by staff. Our marketing department will interview the winner and write a story for our InHouse newsletter. These stories showcase how our stars have overcome their own obstacles. We hope their stories will inspire others. The winner also gets to select one of three prizes valued at about $75.
Locker rooms with showers, towel service, and hair dryers are available for walkers and bicyclists. There are also secure badge accessed bike cages and non-badge accessed bike racks. The hospital and our 70th buildings are located very near to the Burke Gilman trail. FlexBikes are available for check out at our 9th & Stewart location; these bikes can be used to try commuting and for mid-day trips.
The hospital campus are served by the 75 and 25 Metro buses. The downtown locations are located near major bus stops such as Convention Place and 9th & Stewart.
Our transportation staff is available to help employees with trip planning, general questions, bike routes, ride-matching, etc.
Children’s charges fees for drive alone parking at most locations. At the main hospital staff must park off-site and ride a shuttle to Children’s. Free on-site parking is available to vanpoolers and carpoolers who commit to carpool more than 60% of their shifts.
Incentives:
Employees receive commute bonuses via payroll for their commitment to carpool, ride the bus, bike, walk, telecommute, or motorcycle to work. Employees receive a 100% subsidized FlexPass, 100% subsidized vanpool fare, and 100% walk-on ferry pass for commuting. To aid in mid-day mobility, Children’s has Zipcars available at most locations and offers staff the opportunity to use the cars on our account for business use. Children’s staff are eligible for a Guaranteed Ride Home on days they use alternative commute modes.
Results/Outcomes:
The 2007 Children’s CTR results are telling: at the main campus, over 60% of Children’s CTR-affected employees use an alternative commute. Of those 60%-- 20% carpool, 10% vanpool, 18% come by bus or Children’s shuttle, 6% commute by bike, and 5% walk to work.
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