Microsoft was recognized for its work in transforming the future of commuting for Microsoft-bound commuters within the Puget Sound region. As the fourth-largest employer in Washington, Microsoft employs over 51,000 people statewide and is committed to reshape the ways in which employees and visitors commute around campus. Last year, carpooling amongst employees increased by 10% and Microsoft houses one of the largest vanpool programs in the country, with over 325 vehicles serving 1,779 employees. About 13% of Microsoft's Puget Sound employees regularly take Connector, the company's bus and shuttle service and employees enjoy fully subsidized ORCA transit passes.

 

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Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is Portlan'd largest employer and a regional academic healthcare destination visited by 20,000 people a day and one million patients a year. For over a decade, OHSU has provided an aerial tramway that now moves six- to nine thousand people a day while also offering subsidized transit, free shuttles and streetcar, and cash incentives for bicycle commuting. In 2018, OHSU published a Transportation Demand Management Plan with the aggressive goal of reducing single occupancy vehicle trips to just 30% by 2027. OHSU provides employees with on-demand personalized trip planning, launched an increased rewards and incentives program through MyCommute, and introduced bike valet within the past year.

 

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Capital Metro connects people, jobs and communities by providing quality transportation choices to Central Texas. Serving nearly 3 million riders a month, Cap Metro is working to improve service and connectivity in the Austin and Central Texas region. The agency operates regional and city bus and train service, vanpools, and paratransit services. Cap Metro recently overhauled and expanded service through the Cap Remap program, tripling the number of routes that come every 15 minutes, 7 days a week and increasing bus stop accessibility fostering a significant increase in ridership one year in to the program. Project Connect will build upon the achievements of Cap Remap to provide Central Texas a modern system of reliable and efficient public transit. In the summer of 2016, Cap Metro also launched the SmartTrips 2.0 program in Central Austin with a goal of reducing single occupancy vehicle trips 5-10% and increasing the use of other options by 5-10%.

 

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The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County is the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Washoe County, Nevada, serving both cities Reno and Sparks. RTC SMART Trips is a free TDM program provided by RTC to assist local businesses with shifting the mode split of their employees. RTC Washoe invites commuters to "jump in the pool" with its RTC VANPOOL services, in operation since 2005. Since launch, the program has reduced 400,000 single occupancy vehicle trips and 13 million vehicle miles traveled in the county. To further enhance access to public transit, in 2008 the RTC Board lowered fares for transit users across the board, ensuring the availability of affordable public transportation to everyone-- a rare move among transit agencies across the country.

 

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The City of Seattle was recognized for its committed leadership and city-wide focus on decreasing reliance on single occupancy vehicles while supporting alternative modes. The city’s current comprehensive plan aims for 25% or less of trips be made by single-occupancy vehicles by 2035, with SDOT working across several program areas to achieve this goal. To support the goal of reducing driving alone rates, Seattle has also introduced a Transportation Equity program, which works to connect historically underserved and cost burdened populations with affordable and alternative transportation options. The city itself also leads by example with its own employees. The Seattle MyTrips commuting program includes fully subsidized transit passes, a Guaranteed Ride Home program, bike facilities and secure parking, and Trip Planning Assistance.