LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS RIDESHARE PROGRAM WINS 15TH PRESTIGIOUS DIAMOND AWARD IN 13 YEARS

(Los Angeles, California – May 25, 2011)   A coalition of leading Southern California organizations has notified Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)  that it has won its 15^th prestigious Rideshare Diamond Award in 13 years for having one of the best employee transportation programs in Southern California. 

The award, in the Best Overall Rideshare Program category, was presented by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority, the Ventura County Transportation Commission and the Orange County Transportation Authority.

The award acknowledges 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 is  the proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that owns and operates Los Angeles International (LAX), LA/Ontario International (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY) airports.

            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’s 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 employees 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 bicycling, 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.