As traffic congestion, sustainability goals, and employee recruitment and retention take center stage, more businesses in Washington County may be wondering, How can we support better ways for our teams to get to work? One effective answer is through an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC). 

An ETC serves as a workplace liaison for commuting options. Whether it's organizing carpool matches, promoting transit benefits, or sharing biking and telework resources, an ETC helps employees discover and use transportation solutions that reduce drive-alone trips and improve the daily commute. 

In many organizations, ETC duties are taken on by HR professionals, sustainability managers, or facilities staff, often as an added responsibility. While these roles bring valuable insight into workplace needs, they may not always have the time or resources to fully manage a commute program. 

That’s where WTA comes in. We can support your internal ETC with tools, guidance, outreach strategies, and ready-to-use incentive programs that encourage employees to choose sustainable commute options. If needed, we can also take on the ETC role ourselves, delivering hands-on support and customized programs tailored to your business. Whether you're building a commute program from the ground up or looking to strengthen your current efforts, WTA is here to help.

If you're looking to strengthen how your organization supports smarter commuting, WTA is ready to assist. Let's talk about what might work best for your teams. 

Click here for more information about ETCs and WTA membership. 

When long commutes and limited local labor pools create hiring and retention challenges, smart transportation solutions can offer a powerful advantage. That's what two Oregon Companies, Freres Engineered Wood and Meduri Farms, found when they launched employee vanpool programs to better support their teams. 

Both businesses are located in rural areas outside of Salem, where transit options are limited. Facing ongoing workforce shortages and increased commuting barriers, they turned to vanpooling as a way to attract and retain employees while keeping operations running efficiently. 

At Freres Engineered Wood, employee vanpools have helped improve staff satisfaction and retention. The program also supports on-time shift coverage, which is essential for their 24/7 production schedule. Meduri Farms now has nearly a quarter of its workforce relying on vanpools to access work, and the program has become a vital part of both recruitment and company culture. 

Both companies worked with Commute with Commute with Enterprise and Cherriots to build and manage their programs. These partners helped coordinate vanpool matching, provide vehicles and insurance, and offer subsidies to reduce costs. If your business is located in Washington County or the surrounding area, WTA can help you explore similar solutions and connect you with the right resources to get started.

You can read more about both success stories in Oregon Business Magazine: Deliver Business Solutions with Employee Vanpooling. 

​PARTICIPATING IN THE CHALLENGE IS A SNAP!

• Sign up or log in to your free account at GetThereOregon.org/TransitMonth and you’ll be automatically entered.
• Weekly prize drawing: Each full week of June, log a transit trip on TriMet buses, MAX Light Rail, Wes Commuter Rail, Portland Streetcar and SMART to be entered in the corresponding week’s prize drawing.
• Grand prize drawing: Each week, log at least one transit trip to be eligible for a grand prize at the end of the challenge.

Once logged in, visit GetThereOregon.org/TransitMonth for guidelines and info on how to win prizes!

May is National Bike Month and Westside Transportation Alliance and other Get There Oregon partners in the Portland region are excited to announce the 2025 Bike Month Challenge!

Ready to ride more and win prizes? Log your bike trips all month long on GetThereOregon.org for the chance to win. You can team up or ride solo, but don't miss your chance to be part of the movement! 

Don't see your workplace here?
​It’s not too late to start a team Be a team captain and start your team by May 9 to be entered into the Team Captain drawing for a Get There prize pack!

A recent Finnish study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports adds weight to what many employers and wellness advocates have long suspected: active commuting--like walking and biking--can lead to fewer sick days. 

The study found that employees who actively commuted an average of 61 km (approximately 38 miles) per week had an 8% to 12% lower risk of sickness absence and an 18% lower risk of longer sick episodes compared to those who commuted passively. In short, regular movement on the way to work could translate into a healthier, more present workforce. 

You can read the full study here: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

With May being Bike Month in the Portland Metro area and across the nation, it's a great time to encourage your team to get moving! Join the Bike Month Challenge through Get There Oregon. It's an easy and fun way for employees to log their bike trips and see how small changes can make a big difference.

The City of Beaverton is updating its Climate Action Plan and they want to hear from you!

Knowing what is important to the community, what you are experiencing, and what additional resources are needed will help the city make a stronger plan for Beaverton's future. 

This is a 5 - 7 minute survey on climate change and its impacts on the community. After completing the survey, you can choose to enter an optional giveaway to receive a $25 gift card to a local Beaverton business. 

All responses will be anonymous.

2025 Oregon Active Transportation Summit: 4/23-4/25 in Portland  

OATS, the Oregon Active Transportation Summit, is bringing together people like you to challenge assumptions and co-create solutions to our biggest active and multimodal transportation challenges. As an OATS Community Partner, WTA has a special discount code for 30% off passes for 3 days of compelling keynote speakers, roundtables with lawmakers, advocacy updates, workshops, and study tours.

Get 30% off all access OATS passes with discount code COMMUNITYWTA at www.OregonTransportationSummit.org/tix.

We extend our congratulations to Lam Research for being recognized as the 2025 Business Leader of the Year by the Tualatin Chamber of Commerce.

Business Leader of the Year is presented to a business that has made specific, significant, and lasting contributions to the Tualatin community and demonstrated leadership and cooperation while benefiting the community and civic enterprises.