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Rockland County Regional Commuter Choice Winners
Westchester County Regional Commuter Choice Winners

COUNTY EXECUTIVE VANDERHOEF COMMENDS WINNERS OF REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETITION 
Winners Help Reduce 60,000-plus Vehicle-Trips regionally

West Nyack, June 14 – At a reception here today County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef recognized local companies that have earned Regional Commuter Choice Awards for providing commuter benefits that help reduce traffic and air pollution and improve the quality of life for employees.  This year’s Rockland County winners—Rockland Community College, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Weichert Realtors—help eliminate more than 52,000 air-polluting vehicle miles traveled on Rockland County highways every week.

“Employers that offer commute alternatives in the workplace are sending out an important message—that there’s a better, healthier way to get to work in Rockland County,� said Vanderhoef who commended winners at ceremonies at the Palisades Center’s Raso Room. “Summer is when ozone levels are highest and most dangerous.  There’s no better time than now to remind people about the impact their transportation choices can have on air quality.�

The second annual Regional Commuter Choice Awards — a regional expansion of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Best Workplaces for Commuters SM program — is sponsored by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mobility Network and MetroPool, Inc.  To qualify, employers in New York City, Long Island, Rockland, Westchester and Putnam Counties must demonstrate a commitment to getting employees to try alternatives to driving single occupancy vehicles to work. Commute alternatives include car and vanpools, mass transit, bicycling, telecommuting and other options that help improve air quality and traffic congestion. 

"The Regional Commuter Choice awards give important recognition to employers that are committed to helping their employees find better, less stressful ways to get to work," said Joel Ettinger, NYMTC's Executive Director. "In addition, employees make a strong contribution to help reduce congestion and the pollution that comes from so many cars on our roads."

Motor vehicles on the road — even newer, cleaner models — still account for at least 25 percent of air-polluting emissions nationwide, according to the Federal Highway Administration. To help reverse the trend locally, some employers are taking an environmental lead by encouraging workers to rethink their transportation choices — and for good reason. 

The typical "peak period" driver in a single occupancy vehicle burns an extra 28 gallons of gas per year getting caught in traffic jams, spewing tailpipe emissions and increasing their stress and commuting costs.  But commuters who carpool in the HOV lane, hop on the train or telecommute have a different story to tell.

The employees taking part in the commuter programs of this year’s Regional Commuter Choice Award winners make 60,000 fewer car trips and save more than a million vehicle miles every week.

“Investing in a more environmentally-friendly commute to the workplace doesn’t just make economic sense; it contributes to a better quality of life for employees, which profits everyone,� said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. “We hope this distinction encourages other companies to get on board.  Better air quality due to less traffic congestion is an invaluable employee benefit.� 

 

COUNTY EXECUTIVE SPANO COMMENDS WINNERS OF REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMPETITION 
Winners Help Reduce 60,000-plus Vehicle-Trips

White Plains, June 12 – At a ceremony here today County Executive Andrew Spano recognized local companies that have earned Regional Commuter Choice Awards for providing commuter benefits that help reduce traffic and air pollution and improve the quality of life for employees.  This year’s Westchester County winners—Kraft Foods, Village of Croton on Hudson and Ginsburg Development Companies, LLC—help eliminate more than 60,000 air-polluting-vehicle-trips from the region’s highways every week.

“We applaud the Regional Commuter Choice Award winners for implementing programs that benefit their employees, the area’s environment and the region’s economic growth and sustainability,� said Spano, who commended the winners at the County Executive’s Press Room.   “It’s also important to remind drivers that summer is when ozone levels are at the highest and most dangerous and that their transportation choices do have an impact on air quality.�
 
The second annual Regional Commuter Choice Awards — a regional expansion of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Best Workplaces for Commuters SM — is sponsored by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council in collaboration with the Metropolitan Mobility Network and MetroPool, Inc.  To qualify, employers in New York City, Long Island, Rockland, Westchester and Putnam Counties must demonstrate a commitment to getting employees to try alternatives to driving single occupancy vehicles to work. Commute alternatives include car and vanpools, mass transit, bicycling, telecommuting.  

"The Regional Commuter Choice awards give important recognition to employers that are committed to helping their employees find better, less stressful ways to get to work," said Joel Ettinger, NYMTC's Executive Director. "In addition, employees make a strong contribution to help reduce congestion and the pollution that comes from so many cars on our roads."

Motor vehicles on the road — even newer, cleaner models — still account for at least 25 percent of air-polluting emissions nationwide, according to the Federal Highway Administration. To help reverse the trend locally, some employers are taking an     &n; environmental lead by encouraging workers to rethink their transportation choices. 

The typical "peak period" driver in a single occupancy vehicle burns an extra 28 gallons of gas per year getting caught in traffic jams, spewing tailpipe emissions and increasing their stress and commuting costs.  But commuters who carpool in the HOV lane, hop on the train or telecommute have a different story to tell.

The employees taking part in the commuter programs of this year’s Regional Commuter Choice Award winners make 60,000 fewer car trips and save more than a million vehicle miles every week.

“Investing in a more environmentally-friendly commute to the workplace doesn’t just make economic sense; it contributes to a better quality of life for employees, which profits everyone,� said Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Regional Administrator. “We hope this distinction encourages other companies to get on board.  Better air quality due to less traffic congestion is an invaluable employee benefit.� 

                                                                                               
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) ensures that those who live, work and travel in New York State have a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally-sound transportation system. It coordinates and develops comprehensive transportation policy for the State and assists in the development and operation of transportation facilities and services for highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) is an association of governments and transportation providers, which serves as the metropolitan planning organization designated by the Governor of the State of New York and certified by the federal government for New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Contact NYMTC at (212) 383-7251.

The Metropolitan Mobility Network (MMN) is a consortium of metropolitan planning organizations to enhance the application of Transportation Demand Management measures in the tri-state NY-NJ-CT metropolitan New York region.