U.S. EPA and SACOG Recognize Sixty Area Employers as Best Workplaces for Commuters

SACRAMENTO - The federal Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Sacramento Region's Best Workplaces for Commuters Coalition, today announced the list of the Sacramento Region's Best Workplaces for Commuters for 2005 and recognized Sutter Health for its significant contributions to the program.

The list, updated annually, names local companies and organizations that have joined in the fight to improve air quality and traffic congestion by offering outstanding commuter benefits to their employees.

This year, 60 local companies and organizations, with a combined workforce of more than 78,800 employees, were recognized by the Sacramento Region's Best Workplaces for Commuters Coalition. The coalition is made up of leading government and business organizations working to reduce pollution and congestion from traffic, as well as to make commuting less stressful and costly for Sacramento residents.

"Our quality of life in Sacramento is greatly impacted by air pollution and traffic congestion," said Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo. "It is great to see an increasing number of local businesses taking action to help improve our city and our region."

Those on the Best Workplaces list were chosen for offering employees a variety of commuter options such as employer-provided transit passes, vanpool subsidies, bike facilities, telework programs and onsite day care. Studies show that using commuting alternatives offers benefits to employers and employees alike by decreasing stress levels and saving commuters time and money.

"Studies have found that employees with commuter benefits are eight times more likely to use public transit than employees without these benefits," said Tom Gagen, CEO of Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. "At Sutter, we recognize that offering good commuting options not only benefits our employees, but also contributes to the overall health of our community."

Synder, U.S. EPA's Best Workplaces for Commuters program manager, traveled from Washington D.C. to present an award to Sutter for its active promotion of best commuting programs.

The Sacramento Region's Best Workplaces for Commuters Campaign is one of thirteen regional Best Workplaces for Commuters programs across the country, all of which are operated as voluntary public-private partnerships overseen by the federal EPA.

The Sacramento regional campaign is led by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. SACOG is the transportation planning and funding agency for the six-county Sacramento region and is known for its dynamic regional planning and collaboration. The effort is supported by a coalition of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails, the North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Rideshare Partnership and the region's five air quality districts.

A complete list of the Sacramento Region's Best Workplaces for Commuters is attached. More information can be found at online at www.bwc.gov/campaign/sacramento.htm.

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