FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Team Fairchild garnered the Commute Trip Reduction Gold Achievement Award for its commitment to upholding the Commute Trip Reduction law during 2019.
The Commute Trip Reduction law was implemented as an initiative to engage local communities and employers in an effort to improve traffic congestion, air pollution and fuel consumption waste by the Washington State’s Department of Transportation in 1991.
Today, WSDOT offers opportunities to earn annual awards through participation in its environment-friendly Commute Smart program. The awards are an attractive way for citizens, managers and business leaders of the Inland Northwest to set measurable goals each year and be recognized for their efforts.
“Fairchild AFB encourages all personnel to use alternative options rather than driving alone to work,” said Joshua Potter, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron air program manager and employee transportation coordinator. “This includes bike-riding, walking, carpooling, teleworking, vanpooling and riding the bus.”
The CTR law targets worksites with 100 or more full-time employees who commute during peak hours in the nine most-populated Washington State counties. Each worksite develops and manages their own program based on individual needs.
Fairchild and the city of Spokane support their strong community partnership by working with the Spokane Transit Authority to provide vanpool and bus-riding options to Airmen.
“A total of 82 personnel utilize vanpools and riding the bus every day,” Potter said. “Most of these individuals are civil servants and more than 15% of them opt to take advantage of commuting alternatives.”
Airmen can take additional advantage of vanpooling and bus-riding by having these transportation costs greatly reduced or made free-of-charge by the Federal Mass Transit Subsidy available for all Air Force personnel.
“It’s a win/win for everyone,” Potter said. “All we’re doing is riding our bikes, using vanpool or taking the bus while making a positive impact on our environment.”
To register for an online commute account visit MyCommute.org
For more information on the CTR law, contact Joshua Potter at (509) 247-8139.