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Coalition Announces 2nd Annual List Of New England's Best Workplaces for CommutersSM - More than 110 employers recognized for offering outstanding commuter benefits.

Release Date: 08/12/04
Contact Information: Contact: David Deegan, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1017 Carey Evenson, PRR, (206) 623-0232 ext. 257, [email protected]

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2004; Release # 04-08-09

Boston – New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM Coalition today announced the second annual list of New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM. The list spotlights New England employers offering superior commuter benefits to employees, thereby reducing traffic and air pollution while improving quality of life for harried commuters.

The coalition is comprised of New England transportation and environmental organizations, and is spearheaded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The current list includes 30 new employers from around New England, bringing the list total to 113 employers, representing almost 170,000 employees, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Delta Airlines, EMC Corporation, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Intel. The complete list and more information about the program is available at www.bwc.gov .

The coalition also recognizes The Upper Valley New Hampshire/Vermont Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM District for providing commuter benefits meeting the EPA's National Standard of Excellence to all commuters in Enfield, Canaan, Hanover, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, as well as to commuters in Norwich and Hartford, Vermont. This district is the first in New England to earn the Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM District designation.

"Through transit subsidies, biking incentives and other offerings, these companies are spurring thousands of New England workers to leave their cars at home in favor of alternative commuting modes," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. "That is leading to twin benefits of improved air quality and reduced traffic congestion." Varney noted that employees with commuter benefits are eight times more likely to use transit than those without them.

"The employers on New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM list have recognized the importance of offering an array of commuter benefits to their employees," said David Straus, president of the Association for Commuter Transportation's Patriot Chapter. "These employers should be seen as leaders in their communities, and the commuter programs they offer benefit not only their employees through monetary savings and reduced commuting stress, but to us all by decreasing New England's congestion and air pollution."

Motor vehicles, including cars and trucks, contribute more than half of New England's nitrogen oxide emissions, a key ingredient in the formation of ozone smog. Cars and trucks also emit particulate matter, air toxics, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Exposure to elevated ozone levels can pose serious health risks for the public, and especially for sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems. So far this summer, a remarkably cool and wet one, New England has experienced 11 days when ozone levels exceeded health based standards.

To qualify as one of New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM, organizations must provide:

1. At least one primary commuter benefit such as a monthly transit/vanpool pass subsidy or a significant telecommuting program.
2. At least three supporting commuter benefits, including carpool/vanpool incentives, lockers/showers for bikers or walkers, incentives to live near work, or onsite amenities such as day care or dry cleaning.
3. A central point of contact for commuter benefits information.
4. Access to a regional, TMA, or employer-provided Guaranteed/Emergency Ride Home program.

"EMC is proud to offer our employees commuter benefits to help them get to work stress-free, while doing our part to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality," said Denis Olsen, Commuting Benefits Coordinator at EMC Corporation in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. "Being on New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM list is great recognition for our efforts to contribute to the health of our employees and our neighborhoods."

About Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM
Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM is a free and voluntary program that recognizes employers nationwide for offering a comprehensive package of commuter benefits. Participating organizations must meet a National Standard of Excellence as defined by program criteria. The Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM improve employee job satisfaction and save money from reduced payroll taxes. Employees enjoy reduced stress and delays caused by driving alone to work and save money by using employer-provided commuter benefits. For more information, visit <www.bwc.gov>.

About New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM Coalition
New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM Coalition, led by EPA, consists of the Alliance for Climate Action 10% Challenge, Association for Commuter Transportation Patriot Chapter, GO MAINE Commuter Program, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, MassRIDES, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Rideworks, The Rideshare Company, and Upper Valley Rideshare. The coalition works to reduce stressful and costly traffic congestion, improve air quality, and cut global warming emissions.

New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM Coalition:
Alliance for Climate Action 10% Challenge, Association for Commuter Transportation Patriot Chapter, GO MAINE Commuter Program, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, MassRIDES, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Rideworks The Rideshare Company, Upper Valley Rideshare, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

New England's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM
Massachusetts

ADD Inc, Cambridge, MA
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Alkermes, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Alternatives for Community & Environment, Roxbury, MA
Applied Geographics, Inc., Boston, MA
Beacon Consultants Network Inc., Boston, MA
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Booz Allen Hamilton, Boston, MA
Boston Properties, Boston, MA
Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Cabot Corporation, Boston, MA
The Cadmus Group, Inc., Watertown, MA
The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Cambridge Systematics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
CambridgeSide Galleria, Cambridge, MA
Charles River Transportation Management Association, Cambridge, MA
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Eastern Research Group, Inc., Boston, MA
EMC Corporation, Hopkinton, MA
Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA
Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Hewlett Packard, MA and NH
Intel Corporation, Hudson, MA
MASCO, Inc., Boston, MA
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Boston, MA
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Mellon Financial, Everett, MA
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA
NESCAUM, Boston, MA
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Greenfield, MA
Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Novell, Waltham, MA
NSTAR, Westwood, MA
Putnam Investments, Andover, MA
Route 128 Business Council, Waltham, MA
Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA
Simmons College, Boston, MA
Smith, Segal & Sowalsky, Boston, MA
Sun Microsystems, Burlington, MA
Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA
U.S. Department of Energy, Boston, MA
U.S. Department of Labor, Boston, MA
U.S. EPA New England, Boston, MA
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
Verizon, Massachusetts, Boston, MA
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, MA
Wainwright Bank, Boston, MA
Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
World Trade Center Boston/Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA
Wyeth BioPharma, Andover, MA

Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM at Logan Airport, Boston, MA

AMEC
Aramark
Atlantic Coast Airlines
BAA Boston, Inc.
Beacon Beers Joint Venture
Delta Air Lines
Federal Aviation Authority
FedEx Aircraft Maintenance
FedEx Boston Ramp
Flatiron Structures
Gilbane
Hilton Boston Logan Airport
HMS Host
Hudson General
JetBlue Airways
Logan Health Center
MASSPORT
O'Brien Kreitzberg
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Signature Flight Support
Traveler's Aid
US Airways
Westfield Concession Management

Connecticut

Bayer Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, West Haven, CT
Gartner Group, Stamford, CT
Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, CT
Hyperion Solutions, Stamford, CT
MetroPool, Inc., Stamford, CT
Nestle Waters North America, Greenwich, CT
Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, CT
PanAmSat Corporation, Wilton, CT
People's Bank, Bridgeport, CT
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT
Preferred Tool & Die, Shelton, CT
Proton Energy Systems, Wallingford, CT
Purdue Pharma L.P., Stamford, CT
Reckson Associates, Stamford, CT
The Rideshare Company, Windsor, CT
Rideworks of Greater New Haven, New Haven, CT
SACIA, The Business Council, Stamford, CT
South Western Regional Planning Agency, Stamford, CT
Time Warner Cable, Stamford, CT
Yale University, New Haven, CT

New Hampshire

Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
Mascoma Savings Bank, Lebanon, NH
Rockingham Planning Commission, Exeter, NH
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Rhode Island

Grow Smart Rhode Island, Providence, RI
Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI
Rhode Island Housing, Providence, RI

Vermont

Advance Transit, Inc., Wilder, VT
Chittenden Bank, Burlington, VT
City Market, Burlington, VT
Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT
Rural Community Transportation, St. Johnsbury, VT
Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT
Sugarbush Resort, Warren, VT
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, Burlington, VT

The Upper Valley New Hampshire/Vermont Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM District provides commuter benefits meeting the EPA's National Standard of Excellence to all commuters in Enfield, Canaan, Hanover, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, as well as to commuters in Norwich and Hartford, Vermont. This district is the first in New England to earn the Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM District designation.

Related Information:
Best Work Places for Commuters
Ozone/Smog Web Site