LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS RECEIVES DIAMOND AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RIDESHARE PROGRAM
Vanpools Save 5.5 Million Commute Miles and 390,000 Gallons of Gasoline
(Los Angeles, California - June 5, 2002) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has received a Diamond Award for comprehensive marketing of its employee rideshare program from a coalition of leading Southern California rideshare organizations.
The award was presented by co-sponsors Southern California Rideshare (the nation's largest commute assistance agency and a division of the Southern California Association of Governments), the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Association and the Ventura County Transportation Commission.
LAWA's multi-faceted Rideshare Program includes 60 vanpools, 27 carpools, public transit incentives, and several marketing activities and special events to recruit and retain program participants. This totally voluntary program is unsurpassed by any public and private employer on Los Angeles' Westside.
LAWA's Vanpool Program alone saves over 5,500,000 commute miles per year, over 390,000 gallons of gasoline annually, thousands of dollars in insurance and vehicle depreciation costs, and countless hours spent on Southern California's over-burdened freeways.
"All of Los Angeles World Airports' employee commute options help lessen the number of single-passenger vehicles on our roads, which contributes to improved air quality and reduced traffic congestion," said William Bruce, LAWA director of airports administration. "And these options help employees save significant money, especially given today's high gasoline prices. This Rideshare Diamond award is well-deserved, and I commend everyone in the Rideshare Section for their hard work to make a difference."
This marked the fourth year for the Diamond Awards, which are presented to "outstanding businesses and individuals that keep Southern California moving."
This is the fourth Diamond Award LAWA has received for its Rideshare Program. In 2001, LAWA received two Diamond Awards in the categories of Innovation and Comprehensive Marketing, and for Marketing in 2000.
LAWA's Rideshare Program also was recognized in August 2001 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for meeting EPA's National Standard of Excellence for Employer-Provided Commuter Benefits. The two federal agencies also named LAWA a Charter Commuter Choice Employer. The Commuter Choice Employer designation is considered a mark of excellence for environmentally and employee friendly organizations. In conjunction with this designation, LAWA joined the Commuter Choice Leadership Initiative, a voluntary public-private partnership that promotes employer-provided commuter benefits. This national program seeks to improve traffic flow and air quality by encouraging U.S. companies to offer employees alternatives to driving to work alone.
LAWA's Rideshare Program also has received a number of other major honors including the Southern California Association of Government's Award for Excellence in 1998; the Clean Air Award in both 1997 and 1990 from the South Coast Air Quality Management District; and the California Governor's Transportation Award in 1990.
Los Angeles World Airports is a Los Angeles City department that owns and operates four airports in the Southern California region: Los Angeles International, Ontario International, Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys.
