Summary
Through a partnership with Boulder County and the City of Boulder, the district is conducting an Eco Pass trial for approximately 500 employees at nine schools. Boulder County has made a large financial commitment to this trial. The district’s health fund has contributed a small portion of the cost as part of current wellness efforts.
An Eco Pass is an annual transit identification card that allows unlimited access to the entire RTD (Regional Transportation District) network of bus and light-rail routes. The Eco Pass has been a sought-after benefit of many district employees and, accordingly, the 16 month trial (September 2010 to December 2011), has been well received by staff at the selected schools. This trial is as an opportunity to assess the level of use of the Eco Pass and related benefits to employees as well as to measure the value of the Eco Pass for the possibility of its inclusion in the employee benefits package.
Progress
Working with Boulder County staff and school staff coordinators, BVSD Transportation Department staff has provided outreach and education to increase participation in the project. A baseline employee survey gathered information about transportation patterns such as daily commuting and non-work travel in September 2010. More than 84 percent of staff at the nine schools completed the baseline survey. To continue to measure the level of use and interest in the Eco Pass, a mid-term survey was taken in May 2011 to check the impact of the Eco Pass benefit on useage levels. The results show a consistent and elevated use of the Eco Pass (37% regularly ride RTD at least one day per week) and 79%strongly agree that, "the ecopass is a valuable employee benefit."
Outlook
Staff continues to study the feasibility of a district-wide employee Eco Pass program. Partnerships with Boulder County, the City of Boulder, and local transportation management organizations (TMO’s) of US 36 Commuting Solutions and Boulder East are essential to the progress of this project. Funding is a barrier, especially during the uncertain economic climate, so staff is searching for seed money to implement a large scale program and also identify funding sources to support limited scale Eco Pass activities.
Benefits of District-Wide Program:
1. Provides cost-saving travel options to all employees
2. Attract and retain employees with a stronger benefits package
3. Demonstrate positive example to students for use of alternative transportation
4. Meets the district’s sustainability goals of the Sustainability Management System to increase RTD ridership and decrease Vehicle Miles Traveled.
5. Fulfills the district’s community and environmental responsibility to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution
6. Supports employee health. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Public Health Policy finds that people who take public transit are three times more likely than those who do not to meet minimum physical activity guidelines
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
1. CASEY MIDDLE
2. CENTAURUS HIGH
3. HEATHERWOOD ELEMENTARY
4. NEDERLAND ELEMENTARY
5. NEDERLAND MIDDLE/SENIOR HIGH (beginning 1/1/2011)
6. NEW VISTA HIGH
7. PLATT MIDDLE
8. SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY
9. UNIVERSITY HILL ELEMENTARY (beginning 1/1/2011)