SUCCESSFUL AIRPORT EMPLOYEE RIDESHARE PROGRAM SETS PACE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW

      (Los Angeles, California – January 26, 2011)  Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) recently received its 14^th prestigious Rideshare Diamond Award in 12 years for having one of the best employee transportation programs in Southern California.    

      The award, presented by a coalition of leading Southern California rideshare organizations, also served as acknowledgement of LAWA’s continuing commitment to reducing the number of single-occupancy trips associated with its operations, and development of many internal programs designed to reduce single-occupancy trips to, from and within its three airports. 

      LAWA, a department of the City of Los Angeles, owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) airports.

      The coalition, which consists of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority, the Ventura County Transportation Commission and the Orange County Transportation Authority, presented its most recent award to LAWA in the Innovative Rideshare Strategy category, for successful transition of its Rideshare Program to a nearby office building near LAX that now houses approximately 350 of its employees.

      Highlights of LAWA’s multifaceted Rideshare Program involve subsidized vanpools, carpools, public-transit incentives and bicycling, as well as marketing and advocacy activities to recruit and retain the program’s participants.

      Overall, approximately 25 percent of LAWA employees participate in its Rideshare Program, while the national average for employees commuting via alternative transportation is only about 10 percent.  This results in a savings of more than daily 700 vehicle trips to and from LAWA facilities.

      LAWA also distributes monthly transit passes at no cost to employeesl who commute to work by bus or rail.  Its employees are also encouraged to work “9/80” or other non-traditional work schedules, which further reduces commuter miles and congestion. 

      In addition, many of LAWA’s employees and tenants bike to work.  In order to further increase and encourage bibysling, LAWA has expanded its bicycle storage facilities at its airports.

      "All LAWA employee commuter options help lessen the number of single-passenger vehicles on our roads, which contributes to improved air quality and reduced traffic congestion," said LAWA Rideshare Manager Devon Deming.  "These options help employees save significant money, especially given today's high gasoline prices.”

      The Rideshare Program saves more than 1,400 vehicle trips each day; more than seven million commuter miles per year, and 500,000 gallons of gasoline annually.  It also eliminates almost 7.9 billion pounds of air pollutants every year, thousands of dollars in insurance and vehicle depreciation costs, and countless hours spent on Southern California’s overburdened streets and freeways.

      LAWA has continuously been recognized for its Rideshare Program accomplishments.  It has been honored with a Gold Medal in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Best Workplace for Commuters Race to Excellence” and received a nation award from the Association for Commuter Transportation for “Outstanding Service in the Public Sector.”  LAX is the only airport in the country to have received either of these awards.

      The LAX FlyAway® Program is also a major contributor to LAWA’s efforts to reduce ground traffic to and from LAX. 

      LAWA operates the park-and-ride network of non-stop buses between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and four locations: Union Station, Van Nuys, Westwood, and Irvine Station in Orange County.

      More than 22 million travelers and airport employees have used the LAX FlyAway® since the service’s inception in 1975.  In 2009, the service was used by more than 1.4 million riders.