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A-I~achmen-I- ~' <br />19 <br />Report of the Best Workplaces for Commuters Subcommittee <br />Environmental Stewardship Action Committee <br />June, 2008 <br />In 2007, the Environmental Stewardship Action Committee, a staff committee of <br />23 representatives from County departments, received a presentation on the <br />Best Workplaces for Commuters Program. <br />A subcommittee was formed to review the program and recommend action if the <br />program was consistent with the Environmental Responsibility Goal and how the <br />County might qualify to be designated a Best Workplace. The subcommittee <br />included Glen Bowles (Planning), Todd Jones (IT), Linda Strickland (Revenue), <br />Noah Ranells (EDC) and David Stancil (ERCD). <br />Program Summary <br />The Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) program is a public/private <br />partnership that publicly recognizes employers whose outstanding commuter <br />benefits meet the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Standard of <br />Excellence to reduce traffic and air pollution and improve health and the quality <br />of life for regional commuters. <br />The first Triangle Best Workplaces for Commuters employers were designated in <br />2004 and currently includes 52 employers, including the towns of Chapel Hill and <br />Carrboro and Durham County. The focus of the program is to increase the <br />number of employer-based transportation programs aimed at reducing vehicle <br />miles traveled (VMT's) and air pollution by identifying innovative solutions to <br />commuter needs. <br />To qualify for the program, employers must meet a certain number of "checklist" <br />items, including one-"primary benefit," three or more "supporting commuter <br />benefits," and four additional requirements. The complete checklist may be <br />viewed as Attachment 1. <br />Program participants are evaluated on the basis on two factors: <br />1. At least 14% of employee participation within 18 months of program <br />implementation, and <br />2. An annual report on program progress sent to EPA (Trip Reduction <br />Program Survey and Plan). <br />Orange County Qualification Criteria <br />The County immediately meets three criteria, two of which are by virtue of being <br />in the area served by Triangle Transit. <br />