Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 17, 2009
AWARDS RECOGNIZE CREATIVE COMMUTING OPTIONS BY TWIN CITIES ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS
BLAINE – (Nov. 17) –Five Twin Cities organizations and two individuals today received Commuter Choice awards for their work in helping to reduce congestion.
Metro Transit and transportation management organizations (TMOs) in the region each year recognize people and companies that develop creative ways to promote commuting options, including taking the bus or train, bicycling, carpooling, vanpooling, walking and telecommuting.
The following awards were presented to organizations:
The Corporate Leadership award was presented to Abbott Northwestern Hospital, which promotes commuting options among its staff, patients and visitors to reduce traffic and parking demands and improve air quality in the neighborhood near the hospital. In addition, the hospital provides incentives to employees who use alternatives to driving alone to work. The hospital recently funded traffic signal improvements to relieve congestion near its facilities.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College won the Progressive Organization award for its success in promoting and supporting commuting options for students, faculty and staff. In an effort to make taking transit an affordable option for its students, the college subsidizes the cost of the Go-To College Pass, a semester-long transit pass for sale at participating colleges, universities and trade schools. Nearly one in three students use a Go-To College Pass, first offered at MCTC in December 2006.
The Exceptional Company Involvement award was given to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), a Minneapolis-based non-profit research and advocacy organization that promotes sustainable food, farm and trade systems. The organization covers the cost of transit passes for employees and regularly holds commuter fairs. In addition, IATP created a program called TravelBetter, where employees pledge to try alternatives to driving alone to work throughout the summer.
Rookie of the Year award, presented for outstanding effort by an organization promoting commuter alternatives for the first time, went to Lake Region Medical Manufacturing of Chaska. Working with Metro Transit and the Met Council, the company organized a three-day commuter fair to encourage ridesharing among employees. As a result of these efforts, a Van-GO! vanpool was formed by workers commuting from Hutchinson, and another group formed a carpool.
Community Hero was awarded to Sibley Bike Depot of St. Paul. The non-profit community bike shop provides space for local residents, with assistance from trained volunteers, to repair their bikes. The organization also hosts bicycle repair classes for youth and adults. Volunteers who need to use a bike for transit can pay for a bike using volunteer hours at the shop.
The following awards were presented to individuals:
The Citizen Leader award went to Linda Mainquist of St. Paul. Her concern about keeping St. Paul sidewalks clear in the winter led to a citywide outreach campaign to residents and businesses. She partnered with the St. Paul City Council, St. Paul Smart Trips and other organizations to remind residents and business owners of snow shoveling laws in St. Paul.
Chad Skally of St. Paul was named Neighborhood Advocate. This year, Skally partnered with the Grand Avenue Business Association (GABA), the City of St. Paul, Dero Bike Racks and St. Paul organizations and businesses to install 66 bike racks along Grand Avenue in St. Paul. He worked with GABA and the Macalester Groveland and Summit Hill community councils to raise half the money needed for the racks and with the City of St. Paul to take advantage of a matching fund opportunity to pay for the other half.
In addition to the presentation of Commuter Choice awards, Medica was commended for being designated as a Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) worksite. BWC is a national accreditation program that recognizes employers that offer excellent commuter benefits.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, is the transportation resource for the Twin Cities, offering an integrated network of buses and trains as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike.
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(Editors: For more information contact Bob Gibbons, director of customer services, at 612-349-7509 or robert.gibbons@metc.state.mn.us)
