LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS RECEIVES DIAMOND AWARD FOR EMPLOYEE RIDESHARE PROGRAM
Vanpools Save 5.3 Million Commute Miles and 379,000 Gallons of Gasoline
(Los Angeles, California – June 9, 2003) Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has received a Diamond Award from a coalition of leading Southern California rideshare organizations for developing an array of incentives to support LAWA's employee rideshare program. Co-sponsored by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Association and the Ventura County Transportation Commission, Diamond Awards are presented to "outstanding businesses and individuals that keep Southern California moving."
LAWA's multi-faceted Rideshare Program includes vanpools, carpools, bicycle lockers, public transit incentives, 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.
This past year, LAWA's Vanpool Program alone saved over 5,306,000 commute miles, over 379,000 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."
LAWA also has received Diamond Awards for Comprehensive Marketing of its Rideshare programs the three previous straight years, and one for Innovation in 2001.
In August 2001, LAWA's Rideshare Program was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation for meeting EPA's National Standard of Excellence for Employer-Provided Commuter Benefits. The two federal agencies named LAWA a Charter Commuter Choice Employer, a designation marking 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 that include 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 City department that owns and operates a system of four airports in Southern California: Los Angeles International, Ontario International, Van Nuys and Palmdale Regional.
