2018 Annual Report
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Westside Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit that works with employers and local governments to reduce auto commute trips in Washington County, Oregon.
Highlights & Events
Commuter Kickbacks
WTA launched a new commuter incentive program called Commuter Kickbacks to encourage those who live or work in Washington County to use modes other than driving alone. To become eligible, participants must log at least four non-drive alone trips per month. Eligible participants are entered into monthly prize drawings. |
Program Impact
Columbia Sportswear Bike Share
WTA partnered with Columbia Sportswear to manage a closed bike share program for employees at its Amberglen Call Center in Hillsboro. This was the second iteration of the program after the 2017 pilot project demonstrated that an employer-sponsored bike share system is a viable last mile solution that connects employees with transit and is a transportation benefit that supports employee attraction and retention. |
Program Impact
Employee Commute Options Survey
In 2018, WTA conducted Employee Commute Options (ECO) surveys on behalf of 9 members, comprising 56 worksites and nearly 22,000 employees. WTA's ECO surveys are used to better understand how employees commute to work, why they choose the mode that they do, and how they can be motivated to try non-drive alone commute options. WTA's surveys and reports ensure that members comply with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
Regional Challenges
WTA leverages statewide events like the Bike More Challenge and Oregon Drive Less Challenge as opportunities to maximize local participation and awareness. WTA conducts outreach and promotions, coordinates special competitions for employers, and offers additional prizes – all offered exclusively to Washington County participants and WTA members.
Bike More Challenge (May)
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Drive Less Challenge (October)
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WTA's league in the Bike More Challenge consisted of 11 teams and a total of 850 riders. All together, WTA League teams logged more than 13,600 trips and 120,000 miles.
There were 263 Washington County participants in the Oregon Drive Less Challenge and 15 of them won prizes from WTA, including the grand prize: A Columbia Sportswear Titanium Backpack! |
Events
WTA participated in 34 events at member's locations, including:
Reaching approximately 3,700 people!
WTA hosted:
With 115 Attendees!
WTA presented at:
WTA is an active member of:
- Employer-sponsored events in Tualatin, Beaverton, Portland, Hillsboro, and Tigard
- 2 TriMet Pass Distribution Events
- GroveLink Anniversary Celebration in Forest Grove
- Washington County Green Business Leaders Symposium
Reaching approximately 3,700 people!
WTA hosted:
- Information sessions with bike share vendors for WTA members
- Conversations among Washington County governments to explore active shared mobility programs
- 2018 Regional Transportation Plan Update with Metro Councilor Kathryn Harrington (Co-hosted with Westside Economic Alliance)
- Bike More Challenge Westside Team Captain Orientation
- Bike More Challenge WTA League Wrap-Up Party and Awards Ceremony
- Transportation Jeopardy!
With 115 Attendees!
WTA presented at:
- Transportation Options Group of Oregon Statewide Quarterly Meeting
- Oregon Active Transportation Summit
- Oregon Public Transportation Conference
- Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Conference
WTA is an active member of:
- Hillsboro Sustainability Task Force
- Washington County CHIP Healthy Communities Committee
- Westside Economic Alliance Transportation Committee
- Intel Community Advisory Panel
- Transportation Options Group of Oregon
Commute Stories
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"For my regular commute, I take the WES train from Tualatin, transfer to Max Blue Line at the Beaverton Transit Center, and go to work in Hillsboro – fast, budgetary, and great for relaxing with an audiobook." - Pam, Washington County
"There is a lot to be said for commuting to work on your bike. For me it's a win win situation. As life brings on more responsibilities and demands on your time it seems harder and harder to find the time to keep fit. So it is a huge advantage for me to use the hour I would have spent sat in the car travelling to work as an enjoyable ride instead." -John, Faithful & Gould
"I recently purchased a Chevy Volt (Sparky) and will be commuting to work and back on mostly electricity in 2019! I've also created a carpool schedule with a friend that lives close by and works with me!" - Scotty & Holly
"Running to work gives me a chance to enjoy the serene beauty of Noble Woods Park." -Michael, Intel
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Letter From the ED
One of the best parts of my role at WTA is working with our partners and member organizations and participating in events and activities at our members’ locations. Thanks to our members, 2018 was a very busy and successful year: we participated in 34 workplace events and engaged 3,700 employees (both representing huge jumps from 2017’s 18 events and 1,600 people).
We also love being able to help our members with special projects and activities to support their employees' needs. A 2018 highlight was creating a custom map for a Washington County office that was being relocated by construction work. The map showed transit connections, bike routes, and walkable and bikeable destinations near the new office, all with the goal of encouraging employees to use transportation options for commutes at the new location. We appreciated the thoughtful way Washington County approached the relocation and how they partnered with WTA to promote transportation options. The return of bike sharing for employees at the Columbia Sportswear Amberglen Call Center was another big highlight. The 2018 bike share demonstrated some exciting outcomes that are detailed in this report. |
The 2018 WTA League competition within the Bike More Challenge was bigger and better than ever. Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center won the 11-team competition to claim the WTA League Champion trophy, but every team had their own way of making a difference. Some of the highlights included Insomnia Coffee creating a promotional video encouraging their employees to join their team and ride, Intel hosting six(!) events with WTA, Nike logging the most total trips and miles ridden, City of Hillsboro being the most active team encouraging other riders, and First Tech Federal Credit Union having the most active new team in the WTA League. We enjoyed encouraging participants with incentive breakfasts and by leaving prizes on bikes during the Ride for a Prize event.
Speaking of prizes, WTA introduced its Commuter Kickbacks program in 2018 as a way to promote year-round usage of transportation options. With 32 winners in 2018, the program translated the excitement of incentives into ongoing behavior change. WTA also offered many additional prize opportunities for Washington County participants in the Oregon Drive Less Challenge. Look for more ways to win bigger and better prizes in 2019.
My sincere thanks to all of our partners and members. 2018 was a great year and we are excited to make 2019 even better.
Jeff Pazdalski
Executive Director
Speaking of prizes, WTA introduced its Commuter Kickbacks program in 2018 as a way to promote year-round usage of transportation options. With 32 winners in 2018, the program translated the excitement of incentives into ongoing behavior change. WTA also offered many additional prize opportunities for Washington County participants in the Oregon Drive Less Challenge. Look for more ways to win bigger and better prizes in 2019.
My sincere thanks to all of our partners and members. 2018 was a great year and we are excited to make 2019 even better.
Jeff Pazdalski
Executive Director
Financials
2018 Income
Thank you!
Staff
Jeff Pazdalski, Executive Director
Valerie Egon, Program Manager
Sydney Herbst, Program Manager
Board
Brad Choi, City of Hillsboro
Will Cortez, Community Representative
Adam Haslam, Kaiser Permanente
Todd Juhasz, City of Beaverton
Tom Mills, TriMet
Nicole Paulsen, Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Andrew Singelakis, Washington County
WTA thanks the following individuals who left the board in 2018: Danielle Gregoire and Jodi Jacobson.
Members
Platinum
Gold
Platinum
Silver
Bronze
Basic