News Release

Release date: March 5, 2002

Teaming up for a high-rise transportation solution

Bank of America Tower first to participate in new congestion-relief package

Employees in downtown Seattle are being offered a new package of commute options designed to cut down on their daily driving hassles while relieving regional traffic congestion. The 3,500 workers inside Seattle's tallest building are among the first to be invited to participate.

Details of the innovative trip reduction program were unveiled today at the Bank of America Tower to the chief executive officers of companies located in the high-rise. The "Bank of America Tower Commute Option Program" is a partnership of King County Metro Transit, the City of Seattle, the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) and Equity Office, owner of the tower. Equity Office is also offering a significant financial contribution to subsidize this program for tower employers, who in turn will be offering their employees free bus passes, priority carpools and options to make commuting easier.

"King County has been working to develop a variety of services that encourage employees working in downtown Seattle to leave their cars at home," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "This partnership allows Metro Transit to reach out to smaller companies and their employees, so we can reduce traffic congestion both in the downtown core and regionally."

Metro has been very successful in working with large employers to reduce the number of employees driving alone to work. But until now, the county did not have a comprehensive program to meet the needs of work sites with multiple employers, such as the high-rise office buildings in downtown Seattle.

"We know that trip reduction programs have had a major impact on reducing traffic congestion and pollution," said Seattle Transportation Director Grace Crunican. "Equity Office's willingness to partner with us, to try new ideas and make a real contribution of resources, has set a new standard for ways to benefit our downtown community."

The new program is part of a larger campaign being launched in conjunction with the DSA. It is designed to alleviate access and parking issues for employers, employees and property managers. Components include the following:

• Extending trip-reduction options to smaller employers, since almost 50 percent -- approximately 85,000 people -- of the employees in downtown work for employers that are not regulated by the state commute trip reduction laws;
• Partnering with building owners and managers to develop building-wide trip reduction initiatives; and
• Offering new programs to address customer parking availability.

"The Downtown Seattle Association's top priority for this year is to improve all modes of transportation and access to and around downtown," said Kate Joncas, president of the DSA. "That made this partnership a natural move for us. The program allows more employers to give the downtown workforce transit options -- getting more people out of their cars and relieving some of our congestion. We applaud Equity Office for stepping forward to adopt this program, and we hope many other downtown property managers will follow their lead."

The first transportation program at the Bank of America Tower includes a variety of successful King County Metro and Sound Transit products. Employers choosing to participate in the tower program will receive discounts and incentives for the following:

• Area FlexPass -- unlimited access on Metro regular bus routes, Sound Transit Express bus routes and Sound Transit commuter rail services;
• Flexcar access -- the popular car-sharing program that provides the availability of a vehicle when needed, without driving to work;
• FlexPark enrollment -- employees with subsidized parking can trade in their spaces for financial rewards;
• Carpool assistance -- with discounted parking and priority spaces; and
• Bicycling support -- including lockers and showers.

Additionally, Equity Office will reimburse Bank of America Tower employers $100 for every FlexPass distributed to an employee. Combined with the other incentives, employers could save up to 60 percent a year on employee transportation costs.

"We are excited to be pioneering new transportation initiatives at Bank of America Tower that allow us to serve our customers and contribute to Seattle's transportation solution," said Patrick Callahan, senior vice president – Seattle Region, Equity Office. "We hope our program will inspire other downtown businesses to create their own ways to improve downtown access."

Executive Sims praised Equity Office for being a role model in leveraging private resources to reach companies of all sizes.

"These approaches will help reduce congestion and increase effectiveness of public transportation in an efficient and cost-effective way," said Sims. "Our current trip reduction programs prove that when we offer a variety of options, people use them."

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