2011 PACE Awards Most Innovative Program Winners

The PACE Awards for “Most Innovative Program” are given to employers and property managers 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, Most Innovative: Cobb Electric Membership Corporation
Employer Service Organization Partner: The Clean Air Campaign

With commuters driving long distances to get to work, more than 100 miles in some instances, Cobb EMC knew it needed to do something to help ease its employees burden of getting to work. After consulting The Clean Air Campaign for possible solutions, the result was the launch of a vanpool program. Vanpooling caught on quickly, and shortly after its creation, five vanpools were formed. The daily round trip distances these vans travel are 40, 64, 70, 74, and 80 miles, a daily total of 328 miles that are now covered by five vehicles instead of 48.

The company also “puts its money where its mouth is” when it comes to its commitment to clean commuting. During the recent rise in gasoline prices, Cobb EMC made up the difference in its monthly fee from the van company (VPSI) to keep the vanpools on the road. Employees continued to enjoy paying only $22.38 per week, regardless of the price of gas. To encourage other employees to consider commute alternatives, Cobb EMC plotted all employees’ addresses on a map. Those interested in carpooling or starting a new vanpool simply looked at the map, found employee numbers near them, and were on their way to sharing the ride. All employees also have the option of working a compressed work week. As of June 1, 2011, more than 38 percent of employees were registered in commute options. More than 1 million vehicle miles have been reduced since 2008. Clean commutes have also eliminated more than 500 tons of harmful emissions from the air during this time.

PACE Award, Most Innovative: Perimeter Shuttle
Employer Service Organization Partner: Perimeter Transportation & Sustainability Coalition

For almost a decade, no public transit existed on the Glenlake corridor in the Central Perimeter business market, home of 5,500 employees and the offices of UPS and Newell Rubbermaid.  A MARTA bus line was added in 2007, but the route was eliminated as part of service modifications in 2010.

With incomplete bicycle and pedestrian connections, some employees resorted to using a taxi service from MARTA, costing some commuters more than $15 per day. The PCIDs recognized the sense of urgency that was building as commuters gravitated to other options. In January 2011, the PCIDs committed seed-funding to launch the Perimeter Shuttle; this funding would only be available if a coalition of businesses on the Glenlake Corridor made the same commitment. UPS had always been financially on-board, and in early-March, Newell Rubbermaid, Kaiser, and Wells Real Estate (One Glenlake) joined the effort. An RFP process took place in March and April of 2011, and during this time another company, Winthrop Management at Embassy Row, came aboard.   The ADA-friendly shuttle operation began on May 2. Since the launch, it has seen a 20 percent increase in ridership each week with a long-term goal of reaching 120 riders per day.

Finalists: Atlanta Financial Center, Georgia 811, Georgia Natural Gas, Kimberly-Clark