July 11, 2019
UW recognized as Commute Trip Reduction Champion
The City of Seattle recognized the UW as a 2019 Commute Trip Reduction Champion.Ina Dash/University of Washington
The University of Washington was recognized with platinum-level distinction, the highest, at the City of Seattle’s 2019 Commute Trip Reduction Champion Awards on June 5, 2019.
The CTR Champions program honors employers for reducing their drive-alone rates and providing innovative commuter programs to their employees.
“We are thrilled to be recognized as a CTR Champion by the City of Seattle again. Sustainability is not only a value upheld by the university but a value that drives the work at Transportation Services as well,” said Transportation Services Director Anne Eskridge.
Commute Options Manager Caryn Walline, left, Facilities Vice President Lou Cariello, center, and Transportation Services Director Anne Eskridge, right.Ina Dash/University of Washington
The university was awarded for providing U-PASS, an all-access transit pass, as well as subsidized vanpools, extensive bike commuter facilities and no free parking on campus.
The UW also was honored for its approach to new mobility options such as partnering with bike-share companies to provide discounted access to staff and students, and reorienting the parking adjacent to the UW Link light rail station to create a shared mobility hub that prioritizes car-share, shuttle, ride-hailing and bicycle activity. Thanks to these robust programs more sustainable modes of transportation are being adopted by students, staff and faculty as a part of their commute.
An annual transportation survey conducted by UW Transportation Services finds that driving solo accounts for 19% of commute trips made to campus, with most individuals commuting by walking or transit. This annual survey informs Transportation Services of how commute trends are shifting to develop better programming and services. Strategic campaigns managed by Transportation Services — like Ride Transit Month and Ride in the Rain — encourage the use of sustainable modes, address customer needs and help shift commuter behavior in a growing and evolving campus.
“I am thankful for the work our Transportation Services office does to encourage sustainable travel,” said Facilities Vice President Lou Cariello. “Whether it is installing a new bike house, strengthening the network of buses that run through campus or expanding transit, carpool and vanpool benefits to our customers, we are happy to provide the UW community with the resources to commute greener and smarter.”
The UW’s Seattle campus was recognized with platinum-level distinction at the 2015 CTR awards and in 2016 and 2017 at the gold level.
The Commute Trip Reduction Champion Award is one of many accolades that UW has received for its sustainable transportation programs. These awards include a 2018 recognition as a gold-level Bicycle Friendly University, presented by the League of American Bicyclists.
To learn more about the City of Seattle’s Commute Trip Reduction Awards, click here.
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Tag(s): Transportation Services • UW Facilities
