2011 PACE Awards Government Champions

The PACE Awards for Government Champions are given to public sector employers that have developed innovative approaches to reducing traffic and improving air quality while enhancing operations that foster increased use of alternatives to driving alone.

PACE Award, Government Champions/Federal Employer: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Employer Service Organization Partner: The Clean Air Campaign

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows its commitment to enhancing employee mobility, improving air quality, increasing levels of physical activity among employees, and reducing traffic congestion through numerous benefit programs. A transit subsidy program, preferential parking, and in-house carpool and vanpool matching services are just a few ways the CDC promotes clean commuting. In 2011, the CDC launched the second phase of a pilot project to provide overnight access to lockers to bicycle commuters. The initiative successfully increased the frequency of bicycle commuters on campus. The CDC also has a full time employee who has the responsibility of reducing the number of people who drive alone to work and encouraging employees to commute by means other than single occupancy vehicles. The result? Each day, an estimated 1,527 commute trips by CDC employees are avoided by using commute alternatives.

Finalist: 78th Air Base Wing, Robins Air Force Base

PACE Award, Government Champions/State Employer: Georgia Department of Administrative Services
Employer Service Organization Partner: The Clean Air Campaign

The Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) has identified several strategies to support its goal of being an employer of choice, including flexible work options such as telework and compressed work weeks. Last year, DOAS registered an average of 55 clean commutes per day, which translates to 36.7 percent of all employee commutes. The agency also created an intranet page dedicated to the state’s Work Away program, which helps to identify programs available for each job. A telework competition between divisions was recently established to motivate sustained program participation – resulting in more than 15 percent growth in participation. Last year 69 percent of staff (104 employees) teleworked, an average of 10-plus commutes avoided each day. For the year, 140,846 vehicle miles driven were avoided and 104,368 pounds of pollution was eliminated. In addition, 5,023 commute hours and $104,065 in vehicle expenses were saved.

PACE Award, Government Champions/County Employer: Fulton County Government
Employer Service Organization Partner: The Clean Air Campaign

Fulton County Government offers a number of commute alternatives; however, the mode of choice for most clean commuting employees is transit.  Currently, 834 employees out of 5,500 commute via bus or train each day, equating to 170,970 clean commute days annually.  Many employees also take advantage of compressed work weeks, offered since 2009. Currently this program results in more than 24,000 clean commute days annually. A true multi-mode workforce, County employees also log clean commute miles by teleworking, totaling 700 clean commute days; vanpooling, equaling 1,075 clean commute days; carpooling, totaling 3,990 clean commute days; biking, equaling 280 clean commute days and walking, totaling 940 clean commute days annually. Combined, these commute options result in more than 200,000 clean commute days each year.

Finalist: Gwinnett County Government

PACE Award, Government Champions/City Employer: City of Roswell
Employer Service Organization Partner: The Clean Air Campaign

Up to 50 percent of the City of Roswell’s 600 employees work flexible schedules, staggered shifts or compressed work weeks. The City also allows employees to telework as long as their job functions are conducive to working at home and they receive management approval.  Due to the telework program, employee productivity increased by 10 percent and employees are reporting fewer sick days. To date, the City of Roswell has eliminated more than 30,700 vehicle miles from Georgia roadways and reduced at least 1,900 vehicle trips. Employees have also prevented more than 15.4 tons of pollution from being emitted into the air.
By clean commuting, City employees not only do their part to improve the environment, but they also put more money in their pockets – saving an estimated $25,400 on vehicle maintenance and fuel costs alone.  The city has already received local recognition for its commitment to sustainability and best practices. In 2009, the Atlanta Regional Commission recognized Roswell as a “Silver Certified Green Community”.